Isaiah 56:7 says “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations”. It is the cornerstone verse for many prayer ministries all over the earth.

When we read this verse where Jesus Himself quoted it, we can gain even more value and information about what this house of prayer should look like, especially when it comes to children and the next generation.

In Matthew 21 we find the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Many people were declaring “Hosanna in the highest” and laying their coats and palm branches in the streets as Jesus passed by. He went straight to the Temple and drove out the money changers and those who sold there. 

This is the moment when Jesus quotes that famous passage from Isaiah about His house of prayer. Directly afterwards, we see what was happening around Jesus and what His response was:

“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Matthew 21:15-17)

The children recognized who Jesus was and they were not silent about Him. Even in spite of the scorn of the religious leaders they boldly declared His praise. Jesus heard and defended them. 

In this passage Jesus is quoting Psalm 8. Here we wread “you have prepared praise” but if you go to Psalm 8:3 it says “you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.”

I don’t think Jesus slipped up on His words. I believe He was making a statement about the power of the praise from children and drawing a connection between their praise and God’s ordained might which silences the enemy. 

This is why children are important in the house of prayer. 

Jesus said that they were. 

Here He is, in the middle of defining what His house is supposed to look like, and what is supposed to take place there, and He reminds the leaders that God has ordained praise from the mouths of children to silence His enemies. 

Jesus heard the children. He recognized the power of what they were saying and proclaiming. He validated and called forth their praise in His house of prayer. I believe we are all called to do the same.

As we continue to watch the global prayer movement explode across the earth, it is essential that we teach and train the next generation. It is essential that we set them in their places as priests before God and validate their voices (just as Hannah and Eli did for young Samuel). For surely God will keep His promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh young and old (Acts 2:17) and when that happens the songs and prayers of the children will be what silences the enemy.