top of page

Enforcing the Sabbath IV – The Process

Admin
December 27, 2024

" Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, 

Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger." 

- Psalm 8:2 (NKJV)


As we have learned in the last few devotionals, Sabbath is the principle that rest comes after work. Rest is a time to recover and recharge, to relax and reflect, to refresh and rejuvenate. Ideally, this is what we should experience when we rest. 


Sometimes, unforeseen situations can prevent us from enjoying rest. Take Jesus for example, who, after preaching all day needed to replenish for a little while. He falls asleep in a boat and a great windstorm shakes the boat violently. His disciples had to interrupt His rest – Mark 4:35-41. Jesus speaks to the wind and rebukes the storm bringing a great calm to the sea. In doing so, He revealed a process in which to enjoy rest – silencing the storm. 


Storms symbolize disruptions, which in turn suggest opposition. This opposition often originates from enemies. Psalm 8:2 highlights two classes of enemies that ought to be silenced: ‘the enemy’, who are unlawful adversaries seeking to perpetuate evil with no just cause and the ‘avenger, who are lawful enemies with the right to do evil because of sin. The verse also reveals that strength is required to silence them, and according to the KJV of this verse, this strength comes from the mouth of babes and sucklings.

Mercy triumphed over the law of the Sabbath, bringing restoration and provision.

In Matthew 21:15-17 (NKJV), Jesus quoted this same scripture when the chief priests and scribes confronted Him in anger after the children had cried out in the temple saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” He responded “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” (verse 16b). Jesus substituted “ordained strength” in Psalm 8:2 with “perfected praise” in Matthew 21:16. What does this mean? Did Jesus, the Word made flesh not know the scriptures? Certainly not. Christ revealed a mystery with this change in wording; to ordain strength, praise must be perfected. Praise from the mouths of babes and sucklings. 


How does one give praise like babes and sucklings? Matthew 18:2-3 reads, “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven’”. Children, unburdened by the cares of the world praise God unreservedly. When we let go of all our worries and concerns and we praise God unashamedly, our praise becomes perfected. God ordains strength from this praise silencing our adversaries - both the avenger and the enemy. Ultimately this leads us to enjoy rest. 

 

 

Prayer -  Dear Lord, grant me the grace to praise You like a little child, without care or concern, so that my praise is perfected, You ordain strength to silence my adversaries, the enemy and the avenger so that I enjoy rest in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

 

Bible in 1 year: Zechariah 5-8; Revelation 19 

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page