The Majesty And Glory Of Your Name Part Ii: Out Of The Mouths Of Babes Series

The Majesty And Glory Part II: Out of the Mouths of Babes

Over the next few weeks, we will be studying King David's Psalm 8. It is one of the Psalms that shows, as the title of this short series describes, the "Majesty and Glory" of God. There is a song by the same title, performed by both Sandi Patty and Clay Crosse, with my favorite version being the latter.

Last week, we studied verse 1. We saw how the Chief Musician was in charge of all music, the music was a joyous song probably played on a stringed instrument and that the song was written by the musically talented King David. We also saw how the all caps LORD is the word Yahweh in Hebrew and refers to God as the I AM, the always existing and only God, and that the term Lord (capital L only), Adonay, was referring to Yahweh God as Master. God is excellent, or better translated majestic, and is bigger and more grand than all of creation in more than just name only, and that the stars, planets, nebulae and other stellar wonders are God's fingerprints in the sky. The very skies show the beauty and might of God.

This week, we will tackle verse 2: Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. At first blush, it would appear odd that this passage appears right in the middle of a song about the majesty and glory of God, but in fact it is an intregal part of the song as we will see this week.

Kids Say The Darndest Things!

From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease. (Psalm 8:2, NASB)

I always enjoyed The Linkletter Show with Art Linkletter as a kid. Art Linkletter, one would think is about as American as apple pie, but he was originally from Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, Canada and became an American citizen in the 1940's. My favorite part of the show was when he would interview children and, as he often said, "kids say the darndest things!".

When unpeeling this verse--and I say unpeeling because this particular verse has about as many layers of application as an onion has layers--one finds prophecy and downright practical and pithy application. In other words, stuff we can use regularly and use to build our faith.

First, let's just think about Art Linkletter and his statement "kids say the darndest things". Kids will surprise you with the things that they come up with, but also kids, in their innocence will say what is on their minds. They do not have the years of cynicism, negativity and, basically, the world pounding away on them that we have. Of course, they are not totally innocent in a theological sense, as "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), but most young children have no problem with telling you what they feel. This often means that parents will be embarrassed--and learn not to gossip around their kids as it will just pop out of that child's mouth without warning!

Little children's minds develop at a exponential rate up until they are about seven years old, from what I understand. What we teach our kids from birth to age seven will have a huge impact upon their lives. They are watching us, they are studying us as we are the major modeling influence in their precious little lives. What you say they will say, what you do they will do--either positive or negative. This is why it's important for little kids to have a steady diet of Bible from a young age; because it will come out of their little mouths.

From a practical standpoint, think about some of your family members that do not know Christ, and you have an incredibly hard time talking to about Jesus. Your child could very well be the catalyst in leading that person to Christ; most kids will ask or say what comes natural to them; they don't have that built in fear of persecution like you or I have from dealing with the world. While some people will chalk it up as us brainwashing our kids, others will indeed listen and God's Word never returns void. It's like the sign I have seen, perhaps you have as well: No matter whom you are, if a little child gives you a play phone you answer it!

The Prophetic Passage

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?" And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there. Matthew 21:12-18