Friday, February 15, 2008, Part 3
"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul. Like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever" (Psalm 131).
IDEA: Faith shows itself best when we desire God for who he is and not for what he gives.
PURPOSE: To help listeners be weaned away from the concept that faith is a way of getting things from God rather than resting in God.
Let me read a psalm to you that is a personal testimony by David. Yet his personal testimony should reflect our testimony. It is found in Psalm 131: "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty, neither do I concern myself with great matters nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul. Like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever".
I. What do you think David means in verse 1 when he says, "my heart was not proud and my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me"?
What does it mean "My heart is not proud, my eyes are not haughty"? What is the picture? What is the attitude?
When David says, "I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful to me"? Do you think that as a king he did not concern himself with matters of state? Do you think his faith came from not thinking?
What kind of "great matters" do you think he has in mind?
Have you ever had someone meet with a "tragedy" who has said, "Why would your God allows something like this to happen? I cannot imagine that you would believe in a God of power and love who would let a mother of five children die.”
David would have had every reason to ask questions like that: why would an infant die? Why would his children turn against him? Why would God allow enemies to hound him for ten years? These are the great matters.
II. David describes his response to these great questions by saying, "But I have stilled and quieted my soul like weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me."
What is the difference in terms of the imagery of the psalm between a nursing child and a weaned child?
The child at the breast wants something from the mother; a weaned child climbs into the mother's lap simply because he wants her.
When a child is getting a shot, does the child need information or the comfort of his mother?
God does not promise us answers, but he does give the promise of himself.
III. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forever more.
In the context of this little psalm, what do you think "hope" means?
CONCLUSION: This is called a "song of ascents." What do you think that meant? David's personal testimony is not just for him but for the people of Israel and for us.