Psalms 8 (Part I)

¹ Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

You have set Your glory
    in the heavens.

Are there times when you don't think the name of the Lord is majestic?  I have certainly had those times.  Was it because the Lord wasn't majestic?  No.  It was because I was covered in sin.  Did I know the Lord ruled all His creation?  Yes.  Did I know that nothing can be done apart from Him?  Yes.  Did I know that Jesus came and bore my sin on His cross?  Yes.  But I still avoided my God and Savoir.  Anytime we find ourselves with a lack of reverence for the glory of our Lord, we need to take the time to look inside and discover what's wrong with us.

² Through the praise of children and infants
    You have established a stronghold against Your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.

I've struggled with this verse.  How would the praise of children and infants establish a stronghold against enemies and silence them?  In Matthew 21:14-16, just after Jesus cleared out the Temple is this story. 

¹⁴ The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”

But the leaders were indignant. ¹⁶ They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures?  For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give You praise.’”

Here is a direct reference and example of this verse.  The praise of the children, who saw Jesus as He is and accepted Him (ref Matt 19:14) and shouted praise to God burned the religious teacher's ears.  The children didn't see someone who had just turned over tables and run people out of the Temple, they didn't see someone doing work (miracles) in the Temple, they didn't see someone who wasn't more than man.  The children didn't see these and shouted praise to God, the religious did see these things and were offended.  God was at their doorstep and they only thought of themselves.

As you follow this story, it isn't until the children are shouting praises that the religious get offended.  But what can they do against children?  Here Jesus is healing all who come and the children are singing praises, how can they say that He isn't God?  Can they heal?  No.  So, they are silenced and cannot rebuke the children. 

I believe that this verse was written to show again how Jesus fulfilled the Law.  I also believe it is a reminder to us to constantly be looking for His miracles and perfect work, then to be as the children, shouting praise to Him for being our God.  We do not want to see His work and be critical and offended thereby making ourselves an enemy to God.  But when we do see His work and shout praises, God establishes a stronghold against His and our enemies and He silences them.