Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings have you ordained strength because of your enemies… The common interpretation is, that God uses men who are, for weakness and insufficiency, as babes. Not that He literally uses "babes and sucklings." This interpretation, so common in the Church, has never found favour in the synagogue. The Rabbis have a surprising love for children. They apply to children and schools all the Scripture verses that speak of flowers and gardens. The Talmud is full of stories which indicate this love for the little ones — e.g. "There was once a great drought, and the most pious men wept and prayed for rain, but none came. At length an insignificant person prayed, and instantly the heavens covered themselves with clouds, and the rain fell, 'Who are you,' they cried, 'whose prayers have alone prevailed?' And he answered, 'I am a teacher of little children.'" Again, "When God was about to give His law to His people, He asked them whom they would offer as guarantees that they would keep it holy, and they said, 'Abraham.' God said, 'Abraham has sinned; Isaac, Jacob, Moses himself, they have all sinned; I cannot accept them.' Then they said, 'May our children be witnesses and our guarantees?' And God accepted them, even as it is written. 'From the mouth of the little babes has He preached His empire.'" The literal rendering is to he preferred. This verse is quoted in the Gospel by Matthew in a way which is quite decisive of the meaning. That we should thus understand them is shown — 1. From the general drift of the Psalm. The little children trust and love and are at peace, though men be so different. 2. From sympathy and agreement in this truth, which we find in other great poets, such as Wordsworth, "Trailing clouds of glory," etc. 3. From our own experience, children suggest helpful, restful thoughts. If in his origin man is so pure and so divine, must he not be capable of a Divine strength and blessedness? (Samuel Cox, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. |
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