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Psalm 8:2
From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
1For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens!
2From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
4what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?
Notice
Babes and infants seem an unexpected answer to enemies, yet their lips are where God establishes strength in a psalm praising his majesty.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
How does strength established through infants challenge your picture of God's power?
Write on thisWhat difference does it make that these adversaries are God's, rather than whoever opposes you?
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Matthew 21:16and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of children and nursing babies, you have …Jesus quotes this psalm when answering a question about what children are saying, using the wording “you have perfected praise”.
2 Corinthians 12:9–10He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that …God establishes strength through infants in the psalm, and Christ tells Paul that his power is made perfect in weakness.
Isaiah 40:31but those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not …Both passages locate the source of strength in God: he establishes it through infants and renews it in those who wait for him.
Psalm 46:10“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted on the earth.”Both declare God's supremacy, though one speaks of silencing enemies and the other of his exaltation throughout the earth.
1 Corinthians 1:27but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame …God's choice of weak things to shame the strong shares the psalm's surprising link between infants and strength against enemies.
Matthew 11:25At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to …Infants receive a place of honor in both texts: God establishes strength through their lips and reveals to them what he hides from the wise.
Luke 10:21In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the …Both passages praise God for working through children, with the psalm naming their lips and Jesus naming what the Father reveals to them.
Psalm 44:16at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.Both name “the enemy and the avenger”; Psalm 44 describes their abuse, while Psalm 8 speaks of God silencing them.
Psalm 84:5–7Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.Both passages speak of strength that comes from God, whether established through infants or found by those whose strength is in him.
Exodus 15:16Terror and dread falls on them. By the greatness of your arm they are as still as a stone, until your people pass over, LORD, until the people you have …Both describe God stopping opposition: enemies are silenced in the psalm, while terror leaves people still as stone in Exodus.
Isaiah 37:36–38Then the LORD’s angel went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, …Both describe God overcoming opposition; the psalm speaks of silencing enemies, while Isaiah records his angel killing 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp.
Where this verse fits
Praise and worship. fear for the future.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The enemy and the avenger are real opponents in this song of praise. Yet God establishes strength through infants’ lips; his power needs no impressive human voice.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).