Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, you have ordained strength. What is he saying here? Who are the babes and sucklings? Jesus quoted this verse during his triumphant entry to Jerusalem. The children were praising God as he entered Jerusalem. How can God ordain strength? Some translations have this as 'you have ordained praise' - which makes sense. If this does, then strength can mean praise also. This seems to be what Jesus meant also - "from the mouth of babes, you have perfected praise".
From innocent children, praise is perfected. From those who trust in God, praise is perfected. When we rely on God, we allow him to work through us. It is by doing so, that God's power is seen (ordained strength). When God's power is seen, he is glorified (ordained praise). So praise and strength mean the same thing.
By relying on God, we perfect our praise because God's strength is perfected in us - all these he does because of his enemies. God uses the babes - the weak, those who cannot defend themselves - to silence his enemies.
The psalmist then shifts his attention to the heavens. His calls the heavens as 'your' heaven. There is an acknowledgement of God creating the heavens, the moon and the stars. God set these in the heavens. The psalmist realizes his smallness - his nothingness. What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you think of him. Yes, what is humanity compared to the vast heavens? Yes, David spoke the truth - God is mindful of humanity. God thinks of humanity.
More than that, God made him lower than angels - and crowned him with glory and honor. Imagine that! God has make us kings and rulers. He made us rulers over all creation - and put everything under our feet. This is God's original plan for us - to have dominion over all creation; the animals on the land, the air and sea - everything, God has made us rulers over them!
No wonder, David ends this with praise - O Lord, our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
From the mouth of babes, God has ordained praise. One cannot praise God if one is too self-centered or centered on other people. Praise is perfected when it is directed to God. This is possible only if one looks outside of one's self. David looked at the child. He saw the heavens, he saw the animals - and from these, he saw God - the power of God working - giving all these to him.
Lord, may I see things through the eyes of an innocent child. Let me always have an awe of your power. I want to see your glory O Lord. I want to know your power. Come O Lord, give me a humble heart.
