Baby Talk

Out of the mouth of babies…Psalm 8:2

Jesus quotes this verse to the chief priests who challenged His identity: The Son of David, Matthew 21:15. In fact, this was all Jesus said in response to their criticism. As if to say, “Do you not know what The Bible says?” In fact, Jesus alludes to the same idea in Matthew 18:3: Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Strange. God loves to hear from His children—even the babies. The Hebrew word translated ‘babes’ can also mean nursing infant, which is what the Psalmist says next: Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have ordained (established) strength that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

How can this be true? How can the babbles of an infant create strength? Without God, it cannot. But God has chosen to ordain (establish) His strength in our weakness. This drives us to consider the world God has created. Verses 3 thru 5: King David reminds us of not only the magnificence of the universe, but of who we are: Verse 4: What is man that You are mindful of him? Apparently, a lot!

Though God created mankind “a little lower than the angels, God has crowned him with glory and honor, Verse 5. But there is more, verse 6: You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands. As if that would have been enough, there is more, You have put all things under his feet, Verse 6…everything, Verse 7.

The reality of this is why David begins and ends his poem with the same words: O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Verses 1 and 9) This is why Jesus came to redeem us. Jesus came to restore what was lost. Our crown: glory and honor and dominion over the works of God. So, when you think you are nothing; think again. When you hear a babbling baby trying to talk, think of yourself trying to express to THE LORD, how small you feel. Then re-read Psalm 8.