A Little Spiritual Experiment

 Meditations: Nov 20-30, 2015. Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message Bible translation, recently wrote, “Everything that a person can possibly feel, experience, and say is brought into expression before God in the Psalms.” Inspired by Peterson’s comment, my next seven meditations are from the Psalms.  

November 23, 2015

A Little Spiritual Experiment

“From the mouth of infants and nursing babes

You have established strength”

Psalm 8:2 (NASB)

Whenever I read Psalm 8, I recall two personal experiences with its majesty. First, I remember a time when I had been visiting churches in Mexico several miles south of Matamoros. It was late on a Sunday evening and I had just finishing preaching in the last church for the day. My host took me to the home of one of his parishioners for supper. There was no ambient light and it was very dark. As I looked up into the night sky I was overwhelmed with the beauty, the majesty, of countless thousands of stars. My host immediately began quoting Psalm 8:3,

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

the moon and the stars you set in place—“

The second experience was my discovery of Jesus in this Psalm. The New Testament writers clearly thought Jesus was the mortal described in vv. 5-8. (See 1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22; and Hebrews 2: 5-8) Also, Jesus quoted this psalm, but in doing so added his own interpretation. His insight has fascinated me for years.

Verse 2 states, 

“From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength” (NASB). 

At Matthew 21:16, Jesus quotes this verse saying,  

“Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’” (NASB).

So which is it? Has God ordained strength, or praise, out of the mouths of infants and babes?

Yes. Our strength comes from our praise of the LORD. This Thanksgiving week is a great time to try a little spiritual experiment. As you give thanks for each meal, each day this week, let your prayer be one of thanking God for His goodness and mercy, and for the blessings He has brought into your life. Try this everyday through Thanksgiving Day, although I bet you don’t stop there!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.