GALEN GREER

"O Lord, our Lord, Your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.You have taught children and infants to tell of Your strength and to give You praise...." - Psalm 8:1,2

One of the commentaries I read notes David's striking contrast here between verses 1 & 2. In verse 1 he speaks of the glory and majesty of Yahweh, seemly overwhelmed by his observations. Then he immediately follows with reference to little children telling these things and giving Him praise. What? Isn't the glory and wonder of God something that only an adult, with all the knowledge and experience gained over years of living able to appropriately grasp?

In Matthew 21:14-16 Jesus is healing folks in the temple. The priest and religious teachers must have been quite indignant that Jesus was healing people there. After all who did he think he was? Then the children began dancing around Jesus and shouting,"Hosanna to the Son of David!" This really put off these religious types. "Do you hear what these children are saying? They're calling you God!" Scolding Jesus for leading them astray. But Jesus quoted Psalm 8: 2, basically saying, "you all just don't get, it do you? These children know."

My wife Sarah went to a conference a couple of weeks ago and she has found a new revelation of grace. She has a joy that warms my heart as she tells me what Father has opened up for her. We've been listening to the recordings she bought and both of us commented on a portion where the speaker talked about when we first come to Jesus, many times we just receive the salvation and grace He gives us. Then we "go to church". We start to become burdened by all the, "now that you're a Christian, this is how you're supposed to act and this is what you're supposed to do." We get bogged down under the weight of all the rules and regulations, and the guilt and shame that inevitably ensues when we can't measure up. Isn't this like us in our spiritual walk? We come at first like the little children that sat in amazement and wonder at Jesus' feet, thankful the Creator of the universe cares about us. Then we become "educated", and sadly that joy of our spiritual youth goes away.

I love to listen to my 5 year old step-son Liam pray. We kneel beside his bed many nights and I'm always rewarded when he accepts my invitation to pray. I once told him I thought he prayed better than I do, and he enjoys repeating those words to mom. His prayers are so simple and honest and straight from the heart. I come away knowing that's how I should pray.

Oh that we could have that faith of a child everyday. They know and understand in the simplest of terms.