Psalm 131: 1-3, “LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for his mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD – now and always.” NLT.
Psalm 131 is extremely short yet powerful. I have recently been encouraged to read it in the morning, throughout the day, before going to bed at night, and before going into various situations with other people in life’s experiences. This Psalm needs to be read out loud.
David had learned true contentment. He reached a point in his life where the pressures to succeed no longer consumed him. “Failure and despair don’t haunt him. Anxiety isn’t spinning him into a free fall. Regrets don’t corrode his inner experience. He’s not stumbling through the minefield of blind longings and fears. He’s quiet.” Seeing With New Eyes, David Powlison, pages 75,76. David experienced a range of emotions, including pressure, joy, courage, and heartache, and faced threats to his life and betrayal from time to time. Yet, his faith and trust in his creator and great Shepherd brought him peace of mind, quietness, and a sense of tranquility. He was quiet before God, quietly waiting for God to speak. He was quietly submissive, whereas in times past he had been driven by pride and selfish ambition. His humble faith he describes as that of a weaned child, yet not old enough to care for themselves. Therefore, he had positive confidence in his “hope in the LORD – now and always.“
Pride often trips us up and steals our peace and joy—pride leads one to overvalue oneself and undervalue others. Romans 12:16 admonishes us to “Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all.” The origin of feeling inferior to others is actually haughty pride, which leads one to say, “I’m right. I want to feel good about myself.” Isn’t that what the world tells us we should do? Did you realize that fear of rejection can lead to not treating others with mercy? Sins of envy, hate, grumbling, and criticism take root when you look down on others and judge them. David had conquered this, which we read in Psalm 131, and so must I.
David quieted himself, as Psalm 62:1 states, “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.” Think about quieting your mind right now. Let it all go as you give each pressing item to the Lord that has kept you on edge. Let any failures go, committing them to the Lord as well. We all have regrets. Pray about everything. Philippians 4:7, which describes complete composure and a peaceful perspective which says, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” You don’t have to know it all.
When we experience a Holy Spirit-filled quietness within, we no longer need to prove ourselves to others because we are living to please Christ. Ask God to fill you with His perspectives. Serve God and others. Seek Jesus. Dying to irritable, fretful ways is a journey. It does not come easy. Being easy going in one’s personality or having low expectations or indifference is not the answer biblically. It requires resting and depending upon God’s promises and having contentment with God’s leading in our lives This self control mastery is learned by the grace of God.
Psalm 131 is radical. I wish I had known better the words of this Psalm when I was younger. It is a very short Psalm to read, yet the longest to learn. Quote it to yourself every day. Make it part of your conversations with God. Make it your model to strive for in battling pride, reject arrogance, and have quiet contentment before our great and mighty God. Grow where God has placed you. Do your best for God’s glory, trust in His justice and compassion, and leave the results with Him as you put your hope in the LORD.
Listen to Abide (Lyrics) ft. Aaron.