Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Sucklings - children until the third year, up to which the Hebrew women used to suckle their children (1 Samuel 1:22-24). Even tender children can, by their admiration of God's works, put to shame the folly of the 'enemies of God' and of Christ; as the children did the chief priests, who were "sore displeased" at their 'Hosannas to the Son of David' (Matthew 21:15). But this was only one exemplification of the general principle in this verse-namely, that it is by man's lowliest weakness that God in redemption overthrows man's great "enemy;" for "God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27). This principle is especially exemplified in the Babe of Bethlehem, who was at once a "child" and "the mighty, God, the Everlasting Father" (Isaiah 9:6), who "stills the enemy and the avenger," not merely by His Almighty power as God, but by the weakness of His humanity and even infancy. His true disciples are children in spirit, if not in age, as He declares in Matthew 11:25-26.
Ordained - Hebrew, yicadtaa (H3245), 'founded;' in Matthew 21:16, "perfected praise (quoted from the Septuagint), "praise," the effect, being substituted for "strength," the cause (cf. Psalms 118:14, "my strength ... song ... salvation"): laid the foundation of an edifice to thy "praise" or "glory." A different Hebrew word from that for "ordained" ( kownaanªtaah (H3559), established), Psalms 8:3. God's glory is compared to a lofty edifice.
Strength - `might.' God brings forth might out of seeming weakness, making children the overthrowers of the adversary; hence, redounds praise to Him when the work is perfected of which here the laying of the foundation is mentioned. In David's time language is used appropriate to the beginning of the work; but in Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, language appropriate to the completion of the work; for then a glorious earnest was given of that completion.
Because of thine enemies - the serpent's seed (Genesis 3:15).
The enemy and the avenger - the old serpent himself, the enemy of God and man, and the avenger of man's sin on man, just as he is 'the accuser of the brethren' (Revelation 12:10); and our "adversary," as in a court of justice (1 Peter 5:8). Compare his resistance before the Lord to Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1). Compare the same words, Psalms 44:16. As Satan is the spiteful "avenger" against man, so Messiah is 'the Vindicator" [Job 19:25, note: go'eel (H1350)] for man (1 John 2:2; Romans 8:33-34). The Hebrew for "enemies" ( tsowrªreykaa (H6887)) and "the enemy" ( 'oyeeb (H341)) is distinct. There is one great enemy, to whom all the other enemies are subordinate.