Jump Start # 870

Matthew 21:15-16 “But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that H had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what things these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?”

Yesterday, in our morning church service, a good brother read this passage and made some good thoughts about how quickly and easily children know and praise God. It’s the adults who fight this. It’s the adults who are slow and stammer around, while the children rush in with innocent hearts loving God.

The chief priests were steaming in our passage. Jesus was popular. People were rushing to Him. People were being healed. And now, children were shouting praise to Him in the temple. This was all fulfillment of prophecy which they didn’t get. Jesus referenced this by, “Have you never read…” They never made the connection. They failed to see and failed to believe.

Out of the mouth of babes is a common expression. Children know. Children don’t beat around the bushes, they’ll just blurt out a question. There is something we can learn from children.

It’s hard for a dad to come up with a reasonable answer that will satisfy a child’s asking why he doesn’t go to church with the rest of the family? Their pointed question stings. The pleadings of his wife are nothing compared to the innocent questions of the child. “Don’t you love God?” Out of the mouth of babes.

When dad gets mad and says a word that he shouldn’t use and the innocent child in horror asks him why he says that, it’s hard for dad to come up with a reasonable answer. Out of the mouth of babes.

When that sweet little child slips his little hand into dad’s big rough hand there are fewer things more precious as that.

Author Philip Yancey tells the story of a child in church services on Sunday. He was turning around facing the people behind him. He wasn’t talking or doing anything, only smiling. He kept smiling at the people behind him. His mother saw that, jerked him down in the seat, slapped his little leg. A tear came down his eye and his mother said, “that’s more like it.” Yancey made the point, if you can’t smile in church, where can you smile?

Have you noticed little children in church? They come out of a Bible class with papers in hand so proud to show their parents. When they sing, it’s loud. They have a happiness about them. Sure they fidget, talk, and get restless during a sermon, but they are generally glad to be there. I love the little kids at church. They come dressed up. They love to high five this preacher and they have a goodness about them.

Out of the mouth of babes. Children knew. They did back then, and they do today. It seems they begin with a belief in God. It is as they get older that they abandon what they knew. It is as they get older that they question and become grumpy in life. It is as they get older that they smile less. Around the dinner table, children love to say the prayer. It’s a big thing for them. They will thank God for the food, the family dog, the dandelions in the yard, the UPS man who brings packages, and for their toys. They don’t know about North Korea, Boston Bombings, and crime in the neighborhood. They don’t know about jealousy and cliques in the church. They love everybody. They don’t know racism, hatred or grudges. They don’t understand why some won’t talk to others. They see the world though innocent, pure eyes. A small child will bring adults back to that world where important questions such as “why is up up?” are explored. They are curious. They want to know why leaves turn color in the fall. They are not looking for a botany 101 answer but just a simple, “the days are shorter” will do it for them. Children will look at a bug for a long time.

There is much to a child’s world. When the Lord said to be converted as a child, he may have had the curious, innocent, trusting ideas in mind.

Out of the mouth of babes…listen to the children. Look at children. They brighter your day, make you laugh, and help you to see that there is still good all around us.

Roger