19. THE OLD LADY AND ANA-PSALM8:1-9 (The Glory of God)

Ana felt pleasantly embarrassed when her father’s friend, who was visiting from out of town, remarked favorably, in response to her comments on her feeling towards God and his greatness, with a quotation that included “Out of the mouths of babes”. More so, because Jack was a very successful author and he was someone whom she held in high regard and secretly hoped her career would follow.

Later that night, after Jack left she sought out her grand mother and asked her:
“Gramma, what did Uncle Jack mean by his quotation about out of the mouths of babies?”

The old lady smiling gently replied that Jack was referring to one of her very favorite passages in the bible. It was taken from the Psalms 8:1-9 and deals with the Glory to God. Opening the bible at the relevant section, she began to read:

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,

silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

“You notice the Psalmist acknowledges that God is the Supreme Being, who rules over heaven and earth. His glory is seen in everything on earth, and greater than we can imagine. He is able to make babies and infants speak of his power as he deals with all his enemies, even before they could understand the real meaning of what they are saying. This tells you that even at this early stage they are already accountable as God’s children.”

Ana perked up, obviously impressed with what she had just heard, looked directly at her grand mother and asked:
“Do you mean that when Uncle Jack spoke he was suggesting that what I had said came from God?”
The old lady laughed quietly and replied:
“Yes, in a way you are right, that is what Jack was suggesting. That even at your young and tender age, you are already speaking of the Lord’s goodness and strength. Let me read you some more from the Psalm about God’s greatness and goodness”:

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

— the moon and the stars you set in place.

— What are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?

Yet you made them only a little lower than God

and crowned them with glory and honor.

“The Psalmist was referring to the glory and splendor of God’s creations. You only have to look at the sky at night and marvel at the moon and the stars and how they appear, and realize the greatness of God. And then you wonder how this Great God will nevertheless spend time to make us and care for us and give us powers that are just below his. We are indeed blessed to be in this special relationship.”

Ana was puzzled, she did not understand about this special relationship. She always assumed that we are all God’s creatures and he takes care of all his creations. She listened intently as her grand mother continued:

You gave them charge of everything you made,

putting all things under their authority

— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals,

the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,

and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

“This is such a wonderful honor to all of us. God has given us responsibility over everything in the world. We have authority over every living thing including all beings that fly, the animals, both domesticated and wild, as well as all the living creatures in the sea. Because God made humans in his own image, he was in fact giving them responsibility to exercise dominion over the land and every thing living on it, to be faithful caretakers to the benefit of all his creation and to the glory of the Almighty. This is why, like the Psalmist, we should all give praise to God at the beginning and at the end of all we do. He is the great king over all the earth and its inhabitants and no one can ever be greater.”

The old lady closed her bible and waited for her grand daughter’s reaction. Ana rose slowly and with her hands raised high over her head, proclaimed at the top of her voice:

“Glory to you great Almighty God, you are the King of the World and all who live in it.”