"Out of the mouths of babes"

 

Babies are indeed marvels, aren't they?

Have we ever thought about how the Lord displays His power and yes, His majesty in wee babes?

We're looking at verse two today:

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

This is such an interesting thing that David says to us. 

Let's dig in!

David knows that in spite of all the evidence surrounding us in God's creation, there will be some who don't "get it." In spite of all God's glory that is so easy to see, there will still be adversaries who oppose God. They are much more interested in being the rulers of their own lives, don't ya know? There is just no place in their lives for a sovereign God.

Hmmmmm, I know some of the ways that God deals with enemies such as these. What is David bringing to the discussion?

Well, let's try to understand what he is saying in verse two . . .  I saw a quote on the internet that was attributed to John Calvin. He said that the "process of conception and birth of an infant displays God's splendor so clearly that even a nursing infant brings down to the ground the fury of God's enemies." Now, I don't think that in the 1560's, John Calvin knew a whole lot about the complex biological processes that take place in a mother's body as her child is conceived, develops, and is born. Calvin was simply observing the wonder of a newborn baby!

In fact, I don't see how anyone could look at a baby and say that it happened by random chance? How can they deny the Creator?

We are expecting our third grandchild to be born in October. At present, with the health issues we are working through, this is a special joy for us. The process of birth is just as special - in fact, it's amazing! Sometime around nine months after conception, the baby's brain sends a hormone through the placenta and into the mom's pituitary gland. It's a complicated chemical with an uncomplicated message: "I'm ready!" All of the baby's complex systems like the lungs, heart, nervous system and more are ready to make it on their own, outside of the womb. The bones of the baby's skull have not yet fused, so that it can be just pliable enough to pass through the birth canal, and as birth begins, the baby's adrenal glands add a shot of stress hormones, to help the baby cope with his or her delivery.

Breathing? No, not yet - if the wee babe breathed too soon, it would suffocate; if it waited too long, it would suffer brain damage. And so, there is a complex process where the baby won't breathe until it clears the birth canal. And just before the mother and child separate, the newborn gets a last boost of nutrients through the umbilical cord, nutrients that the placenta stored for that moment. 

The wonder of new life and the cry of the newborn are a testament to God's strength and power!

Another way that children show the majesty and power of God, and bewilder His enemies is by praising Him. Scholars tell us that the Greek translation of the Old Testament often translated the Hebrew word "strength" as "praise." Remember on Palm Sunday, as Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem? Then He healed the lame and the blind in the temple. The Bible tells us that little children saw these events and shouted praise:

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 (Matthew 21:15)

Indignant. Such a perfect word for the chief priests and the scribes. (Grin) They did not like what the children were saying, because just as the crowds had affirmed earlier, their cries of praise pointed toward Jesus' identity as the Messiah. In fact, Jesus responded to them and chided them in this way:

 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” (Matthew 21:16)

Can't you just see the high priests then? They must have been apoplectic! In his book, "Psalms," James Boice explains that when Jesus identified the praise of the children with Psalm 8, He validated their words and showed them to be proper. Not only that, but He interpreted their praise as directed not to a mere man, but to the "Son of David," the Messiah. They were praising God, because Psalm 8 says that God has ordained praise for Himself from children's lips. Look at this translation:

From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger. (v. 2, Berean Study Bible)

And how about this one:

You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. (v. 2, New Living Translation)

Oh my. I'm sure they "got" the implication, aren't you?  To silence "enemies and all who oppose you." A not-so-subtle phrase for them to chew on.

So, the Lord displays His power and majesty, says our friend David, in seemingly weak infants and children. He overcomes His enemies by the marvel of their creation and their birth, and also silences them by the praise that they sing in their simple faith.  I guess we could summarize his point by saying that we should worship the Lord in just the same way. 

Lord, help us to praise You as we ought!