Psalm 8: Nothing like a child to shut the mouth of the proud

Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
toddlers shout the songs

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 8 (The Message)

Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs that drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,

Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?

- The Message

I love this illustration of God using the praise of infants to shut the mouths of the proud, even the enemies. This Psalm really humbles me, it's like God saying, all your strategising and tactics are great, but actually I'm going to use these kids today to bring me glory, to speak of my fame. There is something so pure and genuine about children singing Jesus songs. There are moments that you’re so glad you didn’t miss which pour cold water on cynicism, bitterness and bring back a sober assessment and a heart of thanksgiving.

We can so easily lose a sober assessment of ourselves and think we've got such a huge part to play, that some how we're doing God a favour or possibly wondering if the church would cope if we weren't doing what we're doing. This isn't to put a dampener on using our gifts, not at all, can you imagine what would happen if we all just decided not to bother 'let go, let God'. A sober assessment is what this psalm brings to mind. What a privilege to serve God, He could use anyone, even kids to make His name famous.

It's perspective we need in order to keep a heart of thanksgiving, it's what stops legalism creeping in, I can often hear the elder brother whispering, "You deserve more honour, no one sees what you do."

When I consider the heavens, the stars He flings in to space, the galaxies He sustains, the life He gives, the price He pays, the sin He covers, what on earth is man that He cares so much, not only that, He gives us a role to play!

The challenge is to always look up before we get our heads down, get some macro, before we start on the micro.

God, we are blown away by your heart for us, you're so involved in every life you've made, we are honoured to be apart of your incredible plan to bring worshippers to your feet. Lord stop us every time seeking a crown on this earth, let our inheritance be your fame.