His majestic power is above everything, and yet he chooses us!
By Dean Collins
It may be the beauty of a sunset with shades of pink, orange, yellow, and purple that stops us in our tracks as we are captured by its beauty. It may be the revealing of a new day as the black of night transforms into bright dimension and full color with the rising of the sun. For David it was the brilliance of the night sky as moon and stars revealed the glory of God.
Sometimes we are intentional in our pursuit of moments like these, and other times they catch us suddenly as our hearts well up with praise to God. Either way it was God’s intention to create beauty and for us to enjoy it.
Lifting praise
I have read and sung parts of Psalm 8 many times. ““O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” David captured the story of God from creation all the way until everything is resolved and restored by Jesus. Four times the writers of the New Testament quote from this psalm: Paul twice, the writer of Hebrews once, and Matthew quoting Jesus just a week before his death.
As we read Matthew 21 we see the streets of Jerusalem lined with palm branches. Praise fills the city as men, women, and children shout hosannas. Jesus enters the temple where there should be praise and prayer but finds thieves and robbers taking advantage of the poor, selling pigeons to those who had nothing to bring to the temple as a sacrifice.
He turned and healed some who were blind and likely victims of the money grabbers. Children’s voices continue to sing praises in the streets as they see miracles flow from the mouth and hands of the Messiah while the religious chiefs scoff with indignation.
Destroying the enemy
Jesus turns and quotes often-missed words of Psalm 8, part of verse two: “Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength.”
Some translations render “strength” as “praise” because the original Hebrew word can convey both ideas. In fact, the two ideas are connected always. Moses, after seeing the power of God destroying Pharaoh’s horses and riders, cried out in praise to God saying, “The Lord is my strength and my song.” (The word he uses for “strength” is the same word translated “praise” in Psalm 8.) Worship of God destroys enemy attacks in their tracks.
Just last week I sat on the couch with my granddaughter watching Frozen 2. In another room in the house my wife (called Bebe by the grandchildren) sneezed. My granddaughter turned and said , “Bless Bebe.” It was from the mouth of a babe that blessing was declared over her Bebe.
A couple weeks earlier in a FaceTime conversation she reached in her pocket and pulled something out. She opened her empty hand toward the phone. I was puzzled and we asked her what she was giving me from her pocket. “Give courage to Big” (my grandfather name).
I needed courage that very day! How did she know? I suspect it is what David penned and later Jesus quotes: “Out of the mouths of babies and infants come praise and strength.” And when praise comes from the lips of those pure in heart, the enemy is stunned and his attacks are weakened, even destroyed.
Unleashing power
God has always chosen the weak to do his work. He created the world and gave us responsibility to take care of his creation. All of it. Land, water, atmosphere, and people. We are to do it until he receives it back and makes all things right for all time.
We look at the night sky filled with stars and planets and we wonder about our significance compared with the the vastness of the universe. But David reminds us that what might feel like insignificance in contrast to the whole universe is actually powerful. God chose us and crowned us with glory when he created us in his image. But we must not get confused about the source or use of power. Humility and praise unleash the power of God through us for the good of all. If we try to do his work by ourselves, we will inadvertently side with the enemy.
May we learn from Scripture and from the little ones who is really in control and then rest and work from a place of wonder and praise to the almighty God.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 8:1-9; Matthew 21:15-16; Genesis 1:26-28; Hebrews 2:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Exodus 15:2, ESV
Photos by Simon Berger and Lugo Pixels on Unsplash
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