The Praise of Children and Infants

The Praise of Children and Infants

Our church grounds are abuzz this week with the sounds of children at VBS. You can hear the music and the leaders giving instructions, the children's laughs and shrieks of joy. You can see their hands waving and their legs jumping. They are singing and dancing in the opening and closing ceremonies. They are working hard on crafts, running fast in the game time, eagerly exploring the science lessons, and getting right in on the action in the Bible lessons. With around a hundred kids, you can really feel the energy and it is contagious. Children are an incredible gift to the world and to the church. Children can be chaotic, unpredictable, a handful at times, but they teach us so much about God and his kingdom purposes. Listen to what Psalm 8:1-4 says. 

      "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?"

God has big, important work for the children he has made. When David writes this psalm, he wants us to look at the small things, and the big things as reminders of his glory. He wants us to examine the vast expanse of the sky--the sun, moon and stars put in place by the finger of God. He also wants to look at the glory of God revealed in children and infants. David recognizes that God has made the sounds of children and infants to be a stronghold against the very enemies of God. What does that mean? It means the innocent thoughts and questions of a child are incredibly powerful. It means the babbling of a baby are a testimony of God's glory. We tend to look to bigger, more powerful things as our defense in this world. However, we don't need to look farther than children to know that God has ordained THEM to be a testimony of his glory.

There are plenty of voices in our world decrying the glory of God. But God speaks his defense with the little children he has made. When the world says our world is broken beyond repair, the praise of children is a testimony of the goodness of God. When the world says God is nothing, the praise of children says God is with us. When we struggle to still have faith, the praise of children reminds us that we can God can be trusted.

Children teach us about faith. Children teach us to be excited to walk with Jesus. Children teach us that praising God is the best medicine for our world and our own souls. It's a lot of work to plan, organize and run VBS at church. I'm so thankful for all those who served to make it happen because the praise of children and infants is worth it so we remember how great our good God really is. Thanks be to God for the gift of children.