From the Mouths of Babes
By Joan Walker Hahn
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:1-2
My youngest grandson just turned two-years-old. He is quite the little talker. If someone speaks to him, he will look them in the eye and begin a conversation with full animation. Sometimes he will pause long enough to give a big laugh before continuing on with his telling of some situation. We are unable to understand most of what he is telling us, but we will go along with him and interject the occasional, “Is that right?!” He loves the attention and conversation, continuing on until his attention is directed to something else.
One day as he was giving me a full description of something, complete with his joyful laughs mixed in, I remembered the phrase, “out of the mouths of babes.” I’ve often wondered about the babblings of infants and toddlers. It brings joy even though the spoken words do not make sense. And there is nothing like an infant cooing and smiling as you hold them in your arms.
But the verse in Psalm 8 isn’t just referring to nonsensical babblings. It is referring to the fact that from the innocent proclamation of praises from those pure in heart, God can build strongholds for the faithful. It will bring silence to those who are enemies of God.
Many do not understand how to praise God in the midst of trials. Unbelievers cannot fathom the peace that floods the hearts of the believers in the middle of storms. To those not familiar with the wonders of a relationship with Christ, the words of praise from believers is nothing but nonsensical musings.
However, just like the joy that comes from the innocent ramblings of my grandson, joy can flood the hearts of those who praise God. When we are faithful to lift up our Lord no matter our situation, and even especially during those times of trouble, our words of praise will safeguard our paths.
There is another aspect of this verse I have realized recently as well. My sweet mother-in-law has been in a nursing facility for over a year now. She has dementia and many times does not make sense when trying to carry on a conversation. And lately it has been even harder since we cannot visit her in person because of the pandemic. When my husband has had the opportunity to talk to her personally on the phone, there is no telling what she may say.
One day we had her on the phone and he told her he loved her. She then began to repeat over and over, “That sounds so good! Oh, it’s so good to love. Yes, we need to love each other. That sounds so good.”
It took a while to get her to say goodbye as she kept repeating how good it sounded to have love. She may not remember most things, and she probably didn’t recall talking with us as soon as she hung up. But the love of Christ she has hidden in her heart and that she taught and has shown to so many through the years, that love is still there. It has been her stronghold. And it will be what leads her home to Jesus one day.
That love of Christ is what leads us to praise. That love that we see in the eyes of cooing infants, in the laughter of toddlers telling a story, and in the repeated words of a dear saint with dementia, that love is worthy of our praise.
Many in the world will try to silence our praises. We may be looked upon as foolish. We may be ridiculed and mocked. But the majesty of our Lord cannot be hidden. It is revealed in nature. It is revealed in our steadfast faith. And it is heard from the mouths of babes.
Father, we praise You for Your unfailing love! You are worthy of all praise and honor and glory! May the praise coming forth from our lips be our stronghold in times of trouble, may it sustain us in moments of trials, and may it shelter us from our enemy. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
For more encouragement, visit Joan at joanwalkerhahn.com.
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Originally published Wednesday, 24 June 2020.
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