Quiet Earth Fellowservants of Christ

Psalm 131

LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. 3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

This Psalm is composed in a way that the individual expression of prayer in vv. 1,2 is used as an exhortation to the entire nation or in a spiritual sense, all true believers throughout the ages. The key lesson to be understood in the Psalm is the statement in verse two that "I have behaved and quited my soul". "Quieted" is a good translation here as is "like a weaned child" (KJV; NAS), this indicates the overcoming of a habit. "Clinging" in the RSV and NEB do not present a very adequate translation of the original Hebrew. Being content with that which the LORD has blessed one with is a lesson that is very often learned as we go through the trials of life.
[1] This verse warns against pride. All human wisdom is subject to limits; but God's wisdom is infinite and that is why we must stand humbly and in awe of Him. Only arrogance would allow someone to believe in the power of man and attempt to exhalt such silliness over the Word of God:

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11:33-36).
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4).
[2] Quieted indicates something which has been overcome. Here, quieting oneself suggests that God is now the center of a persons life and not their own self-centeredness.

"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:2-6).
Spiritually, when it comes to evil, we must become as little children to see the kingdom of heaven. This idea is found in both the Old and New testaments:

"Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved." (Psalm 62:1,2).
"Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:2-6).
"Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (1 Corinthians 14:20).
[3] henceforth means throughout one's lifetime. God is worthy of praise by all mankind and by everything throughout the universe. When the present earth and heavens have passed away, God will be praised by His saints in the new heavens and earth forever.

Email: quiet@earthling.net

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