Out of the Mouth of Babes

Psalm 8

“Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established a defense against your foes, to silence the enemy and the rebel" (Psalm 8:2). 

Here’s an intriguing apologetic: The proof of God's greatness lies in the fact that a little child can know Him. Their love and trust is the answer to those who doubt Him, an argument Jesus used on one occasion.

When the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw children running and singing praise songs in the sacred temple precincts, they were scandalized. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, quoting this psalm. “Have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, call forth praise’?” (Matthew 21:16).

These little ones were scampering through the temple, shouting “Hosanna (Aramaic for ‘Save, I pray!’) as they danced and sang around Jesus. (Perhaps these were the little street urchins that often  gathered around his knees.) These children knew, as Israel’s wise and learned men did not know—for they did not have the wisdom of a child—that Jesus was the long-awaited Savior. Their playful and exuberant faith was God's argument against the unbelief and skepticism of his day. 

That's why it’s a serious sin to hinder the faith of one of these little ones “who believe on him” as Jesus said. “It would be better for that one that a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin” (Luke17:1,2).

I think of college professors and public school teachers that undermine the faith of those in their care, and parents that hinder their little ones through indifference. 

And then I think of myself: Have I, by my behavior, belied the fact that I’m a follower of Jesus and caused them to stumble? (Where does one find a millstone these days?)

David Roper

 10.22.19