The Kind of Praise That Shuts Satan’s Mouth – Psalm 8:2 (Praying the Psalms)

“You have built a stronghold by the songs of babies.
Strength rises up with the chorus of singing children.
This kind of praise has the power to shut satan’s mouth.
Childlike worship will silence
the madness of those who oppose you.”
Psalm 8:2, Passion

It is always good to remember that life is lived on levels. We exist in more than one realm, and operate across dimensions. It sounds like science fiction, but is in truth science fact. Just because we cannot see something with the natural eye does not diminish its substance. Jesus said that the work of the spirit is like the wind. You see its effects. You know its real because everything around is affected by its moving.

And so it is with our worship. It may be heard here by the ear, but in the spirit world it is far louder and more impacting than we often apprehend. The most powerful opposition can be silenced by the most humble praise.

Papa has ordained praise for this purpose – to silence the enemy. He takes the weakest most vulnerable expressions of faith, and turns them into mighty weapons of war in the heavenlies. As we worship on earth, we war in the heavens.

Satan can’t stand it. It makes no sense that our immature, childlike and often absurdly simplistic attempts to glorify God are somehow transformed into mighty songs of deliverance, shaking the very foundations of the devil’s kingdom.

Later in Psalms the same picture is painted:

“God’s high and holy praises fill their mouths,
for their shouted praises are their weapons of war!
These warring weapons will bring vengeance
on every opposing force and every resistant power…”
Psalm 149:6-7, Passion

How infuriating for a spirit who once stood and worshipped before the throne himself. Many commentators ascribe the lost honor of leading worship to Lucifer before his fall. Ezekiel describes him as a spirit filled with music and light:

“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” (Ezekiel 28:13–14 KJV)

The perfect worshipper. The light being, described as one in whom music lived and breathed, now silenced by the heartfelt imperfect praise of children.

Never forget that your worship works on many levels. Worship ushers in the King, building him a throne. Worship transforms the spirit and enlightens the eyes as God is magnified and we are changed in his glory. Worship breaks the powers of darkness, silencing their lies and releasing unquenchable light in the spiritual realm. This is not a war in the natural, it is a wrestling in the spirit. Waging war through praise is a wonderful thing, bringing peace and alignment down below. It is the God of peace and creation we release to act through our praises, not a god of war and destruction.

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” (Romans 16:20 KJV)

In the Narnian allegory Aslan created the worlds through a song (as described in C S Lewis’ wonderful book the Magician’s Nephew):

“In the darkness something was happening at last.  A voice had begun to sing…it seemed to come from all directions at once…Its lower notes were deep enough to be the voice of the earth herself.  There were no words.  There was hardly even a tune.  But it was beyond comparison, the most beautiful noise he had ever heard.  It was so beautiful Digory could hardly bear it…”

And through that song the worlds sprang into being.

So it with the songs of the redeemed. They dispell the darkness and invite the light!

When we understand how God ordains praise for reasons bigger than ourselves, we engage on a deeper level. Praise and worship is so much more than a preliminary duty before the Sunday sermon. On childlike anointed lips worship is the weapon of mass destruction against the wiles of satan. He recoils in stunned silence when we choose thanksgiving over complaint. He covers his burning ears when we prefer praise instead of pride. He winces when we favor worship over worry. All of satan’s deceptive weapons are rendered powerless in an atmosphere of praise.

Hallelujah! Ha-Ha-Ha-lelujah!

Papa has designed joy to be his people’s strength, praise to be their tower of refuge and worship to be their weapon of war!

The Bible literally says that He kicked the devil’s butt:

“Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.” (Psalms 78:65–66 KJV)

I am so very glad I am not the devil.

“Papa, I love you so much. The way you have designed things to work in the spirit realm is just amazing! That you would choose simple praise and heartfelt, honest worship as your chosen instruments of battle is just sheer genius. I love to worship you, joy fills my heart when I lift my voice and move my feet in response to your love. Thanks bubbles up from my belly as I think of your goodness. And as I rejoice you take my childlike utterance and whip the enemies behind. You rock, God. You are so astonishing in every way! Shouts are not enough to express the wonder that we feel!”

“Child, my word says that I laugh in the heavens (Psalm 2:4), mocking the futility of satan’s advances. I laugh because I know he cannot stand against the weakest who will praise me. I have ordained praise because all can choose their words. Thanksgiving is a choice that benefits the praiser more than the praised. I lift and stir myself on your behalf when worship ascends. Enemies are routed when you raise your voice to praise my name. I am indeed a mighty warrior, a victory giver making you more than a conqueror. Praise me with abandon, child, and watch me bring the walls down!”