Psalm 131
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
Sermon quotes and references
God speaks to us in many different ways. When you hear, “Now it came to pass”, settle down for a good story. When God asserts, “I am”, trust His self-revelation. When He promises, “I will”, bank on it. When He tells you, “You shall… you shall not”, do what He says. But psalm 131 is in a different vein. Most of it is holy eavesdropping. We have intimate access to the inner life of someone who has learned composure, & who then invites us to come along. Psalm 131 is show-&-tell for how to become content. The psalmist is quiet on the inside. He is not noisy, or obsessed, or irritated, or on the edge. The to-do lists & pressures to achieve don’t consume him. Ambition doesn’t churn inside of him. Failure & despair don’t haunt him. Regrets don’t corrode his inner experience. Dissatisfaction & envy don’t devour him. He’s quiet. Are you quiet inside? Is Psalm 131 your experience? Is the answer is “no”, what is the noise going on inside you?” – David Powlison, Peace, Be Still
I ask’d the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and ev’ry grace,
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.
’Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust, has answer’d pray’r;
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.
I hop’d that in some favour’d hour,
At once he’d answer my request:
And by his love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
Instead of this. he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev’ry part.
Yea more, with his own hand he seem’d
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Cross’d all the fair designs I schem’d,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
Lord, why is this, I trembling cry’d,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way,” the Lord reply’d,
“I answer pray’r for grace and faith.
”These inward trials I employ,
“From self and pride to set thee free;
”And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
“That thou mayst seek thy all in me.”
– John Newton, “Prayer Answered By Crosses”