"By the mouths of little children"

Monday, April 5, 2021

"By the mouths of little children"

"Through the mouths of little children and those who suckle, you have founded your strength, for the sake of your adversaries, to silence the enemy and the avenger." Psalm 8:2

“Have you never read : By the mouth of little children and infants, you established your praise ?" Matthew 21:16

In some societies, children were kept away from important encounters. At meals, if there were any distinguished visitors, they were served separately. Even in a few churches, they did not attend worship until they were nine or ten years old. It seemed that, for these societies, children were not very important. But what does Scripture say ?

Already the Old Testament notes the importance of family and descent among the sons of Israel. And what mattered most to the Israelite was to ensure that the name was maintained in subsequent generations, hence the importance given to boys, to the detriment of girls. This is not so with the Lord, for the children - these men and women in the making - are all very dear to his heart. He took them in his arms to bless them, severely chastising those who were holding them back. “Let the little children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven is theirs that are like them” (Matthew 19:14).

When the Lord enters Jerusalem, he is acclaimed by the crowd which quotes Psalm 118 while shouting Hosanna (in Hebrew : Save, I pray thee) to the Son of David (Matthew 21:9). The children, who had probably joined the procession, repeat this refrain in the temple. The chief priests are indignant. It was then that the Lord asked them this question : Have you never read... ? No, there is nothing wrong with these cries of children : if the religious leaders of the people, who are supposed to know the Scriptures, do not praise him as Messiah, then he derives his praise from little children. The Lord takes pleasure in it !

Little children have the ability to believe and praise God without doubting. Their spiritual perception is often greater than we imagine ! They glorify the name of the Lord in a way that pleases him.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)