Psalm 131 — Only Truthful Hearts — Reading the Psalms

A Song of Ascents; of David.

1 LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty;
Neither do I exercise myself in great matters,
Or in things too wonderful for me.
2 Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child with his mother,
My soul is with me like a weaned child.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and for evermore.

This psalm of humility depends on our sincerity to work. No hypocrite can love this psalm because it speaks of contentment on a great scale. A hypocrite who tries to live like this psalm is soon found out.

Haughty, lofty proud hearts speak of themselves above all else. Their own needs, their own passions, these are the great themes of their lives. These are the ones who have sure words in every topic, though rarely knowing the truths of the things of which they speak. Much like the makers of idols, the haughty become like them themselves: blind, deaf and mut to all. That’s why only the sincere can engage with this psalm.

Truthful hearts consider themselves honestly. Truthful hearts know if they’re faking contentment and ease. If this is the case, the truthful heart will reach for a psalm of petition & pleading from the Lord.

Yet, when the truthful heart finds contentment, they may in this psalm speak confident words. Having found peace in God, weaned from anxiety like a child from milk, they stand secure and steadfast. God himself raises us and feeds us in our distress, helping us stand, weaned from simple milk to the meat of his wisdom and word. Let us hope in this great God for help.