For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage:  Psa 131

1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quietened myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.

3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord
    both now and for evermore.

A. Find Out

1. What is his heart and eyes not? v.1a
2. What doesn’t he do? v.1b
3. What has he done? v.2a
4. What is his soul like? v.2b,c
5. What does he call Israel to do? v.3

B. Think:

1. What has he sought to avoid?
2. What attitude has he sought to cultivate?
3. What does that leave him declaring?

C. Comment:

                The simplicity and beauty of this twelfth ‘song of ascents’ is lovely. In its brevity and straight forwardness it seems to shine out like a diamond. It is a simple declaration for the pilgrim as they come to Jerusalem to meet with the Lord. It is a psalm of the attitude of trust.

                First of all there is the negative which we sometimes need to see what we need to avoid and the psalmist is aware that there are things for the believer to avoid. He addresses the Lord. Lord, my heart is not proud or my eyes not haughty (v.1a). We speak of ‘haughty eyes’ when we find someone who looks down on others. This pilgrim rejects pride and arrogance. Moreover he or she hasn’t concerned him or herself with matters above their station (v.1b). There is a humility in them that accepts where they are in life. They will not puff themselves up.

                Then comes the positive. They have refused to become busy and agitated with life, they have refused the potential stresses that we allow ourselves to take on, and have instead quietened their soul (v.2a). In the same way that a baby rests secure on its mothers breasts, so they (by implication) rest in the security of the Lord (v.2b,c). What a lovely picture of peace and security.

                But this person is not left inward looking. They are members of a community, the community of Israel and they want all the members of that community to be able to hope (rest) in the Lord as well (v.3).

D. Application:

1. Is my life at peace in God?
2. Is it my desire for my community to know this same peace?