SILENCING THE OPPOSITION

The blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the little children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.” But the leaders were indignant. They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise’” (Matthew 21:14-16, NLT).

 

Jesus silenced these critics and those who were challenging His authority with this quote from Psalm 8:2: “You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength (to praise), silencing your enemies and all who oppose you” (NLT).

 

The critics of Jesus were deeply upset. The word indignant does not mean they were mildly irritated at Him, it means they were violently upset. They were not just upset that Jesus was healing the sick and doing the miraculous in the Temple. What really upset them was what the people were saying, what the children were saying and doing. They were worshiping and praising Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of David, and that brought out the rage-filled accusations. The critics were trying to cut off the praise because, I think, they understood what its power would accomplish.

Throughout the book of Psalms David continually referred to those who opposed him, some violently, some verbally. With people after him and conspiring against him all the time, David learned the secret of dealing with these attacks. He did not try to employ the brilliance of his intellect or all the collective wisdom that he had acquired over the years. Instead, David brought the power and presence of God against his accusers, and that led him to victory and took the enemy to defeat.

David learned that when those who opposed him came with their accusations, lies, criticism and violence, giving praise and honor to God was the pathway to victory. This was the pathway that God had taught him to walk and David had carefully established it in his life. In the natural order of life, children and infants are the weakest of all. But when praise comes from even the very weakest, it is strong enough to silence the foe, the accuser, the opposition (see 1 Corinthians 1:27).

When we are under attack spiritually through lust, temptation, accusations or oppression, how do we silence these attackers? King David has shown us the way and it is by the power of praise. When our praise and worship reaches to God He responds (see Psalm 22:3). God’s presence silences the accuser just exactly the way the critics of Jesus were silenced when He quoted this verse to them. They had no comeback—they were stilled—and the attack became impotent.

To begin to praise when you are under attack is a discipline that you must work to get hold of if it is to be profitable in your spiritual life. The natural tendency when attacks come is to duck, run or fight back. I am not suggesting that you should not fight back; in fact, you should fight. But if you are going to raise the shield of faith, you have to learn to praise in difficult circumstances because true praise/worship is an act of faith. If you want to quench (silence) all the fiery darts of the enemy, you must begin to praise.

Men, when that spirit of fantasy and lust is on you and you begin to give time and space to it even though you know it’s wrong, you must take steps to break free. In order to do this, you must discipline yourself to thank and praise the Lord for who He is and for all He’s done in your life. This will not be easy—it is a discipline, a naked act of faith—but it works and it will silence the voice of the enemy. It will take time and effort to get this discipline established in your life but it will be worth it.

When those voices of doubt and uncertainty come—then it’s time to praise the Lord!

When those oppressive spirits come with their destructive thoughts—then it’s time to praise!

When those angry spirits come with their thoughts of violence and rage—then it’s time to praise!

When those proud spirits come to exalt themselves against all that is godly and holy—then it’s time to praise!

When those lying spirits come telling you it’s okay to compromise, cheat and steal—then it’s time to praise!

“Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength (praise) . . . to still (silence) the enemy” (Psalm 8:2, ESV).