Morning Repost- Psalm 131— A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Yahweh, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. 2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in Yahweh from this time forth and forever.
“’A Song of Ascents of David— He is the author and the subject of it, and many incidents of his life may be employed to illustrate it. Comparing all the Psalms to gems, we should liken this to a pearl: how beautifully it will adorn the neck of patience. It is one of the shortest Psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn. It speaks of a young child, but it contains the experience of a man in Christ.” (C. H. Spurgeon) This psalm “breathes the profoundest humility and submission to God's will (Psalms 131:1, Psalms 131:2). At the same time, it encourages the faithful to maintain a lively ‘hope’ in God's sustaining grace (Psalms 131:3).” (Joseph Exell)
"His submission in such matters stands contrasted with the presumption of those who, without any call from God, hurry themselves into unwarrantable undertakings, and involve themselves in duties which properly belong to others. For so long as we have a clear call from God, things cannot be said to be shut up or hidden from us, or too great for us, provided we stand ready for all obedience; and, on the other hand, those who yield themselves up to the influence of ambition will soon lose themselves in a labyrinth of perplexity. We see how God confounds the proud and boasted enterprises of the children of this world. They run the full course of their wild career, they turn the earth upside down at their pleasure, and put forth their hand in every direction; they are filled with complacency at the thought of their own talents and industry, and, in a moment, when all their plans have been fully formed, they are entirely overthrown, because there is no solidity in them.” (John Calvin)
“‘Yahweh, my heart is not haughty— Though anointed and appointed by thee to the kingdom; yet I have not ambitiously aspired unto it, by seeking Saul’s death, as his flatters persuaded him; nor do I now, being possessed of it, proudly domineer (as is the manner of most potentates) and tyrannize over my poor subjects; but with all modesty and humility (not minding high things) I do condescend to them of low estate, Romans 12:16.” (Trapp)— "'nor mine eyes lofty.’ Pride has its seat in the heart; but its principal expression is in the eye. The eye is the mirror of the soul; and from it mental and moral characteristics may be ascertained, with no small degree of precision… We are all familiar with a class of phrases, which run in pairs. We speak of sin and misery; holiness and happiness; peace and prosperity, war and desolation. Among these may be numbered, the proud heart and the haughty look. ‘There is a generation, Oh, how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.’ ‘Him that hath an high look and a proud heart I will not suffer.’” (N. McMichael)—
“’Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.’ The great and wonderful things meant are God's secret purposes, and sovereign means for their accomplishment, in which man is not called to cooperate, but to acquiesce.” (J. A. Alexander)
“I do not seek, O Lord, to penetrate thy depths. I by no means think my intellect equal to them: but I long to understand in some degree thy truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand that I may believe; but I believe, that I may understand.” (Anselm)
“’Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul— myself. "Oh, how sapless and insipid doth the world grow to the soul that is making meet for heaven! ‘I am crucified to the world, and this world to me.’ Gal 6:14. In valet doth this harlot think to allure me by her attractions of profit and pleasure.” (Oliver Heywood)— “’like a weaned child is my soul within me.’ The child is cross and fretful while in the weaning; but in a day or two it cares no longer for milk, and it can bear stronger food.” (Matthew Henry)
The Targum has it, “as one weaned on the breasts of its mother, I am strengthened in the law." We must rely on Christ’s blood and therefore His righteousness, as revealed therein. “He that hath the lowest views of his own merit, hath the highest views of Christ. And he that hath learned the first lesson in the school of grace to be most humbled under a sense of sin, will be most bold to plead Christ and His righteousness. Neither can a child of God be properly prepared to receive out of Christ's fulness, until he is self-emptied, and comes with nothing, that he may receive all. The figure of a weaned child is beautifully chosen to represent this; for, as our Lord taught, except we be weaned, and become as little children, desirous to be taught everything, because we know nothing; we shall be wayward and perverse as babes at the full breast of an indulgent mother. Matthew 18:8. Lord, give me this weaned state, that I may hang upon the God of Israel, even a God in Christ forever!” (Robert Hawker)
“How patiently did Isaac permit himself to be bound and sacrificed by Abraham! Gen 22:9. And yet he was of age and strength sufficient to have struggled for his life, being twenty-five years old; but that holy young man abhorred the thought of striving with his father. And shall not we resign ourselves to our God and Father in Christ Jesus?” (John Singleton) Let me likewise be contented with my place, resting in His "love and provision.” (Manton) "I have no plan as regards myself; well assured as I am that the place where the Saviour sees meet to place me must ever be the best place for me.” (Robert Murray M'Cheyne)
David was anointed king of all of Israel and yet he “did not take possession of the throne violently; but after Samuel has anointed him, he willingly and patiently traverses the long, thorny, circuitous way of deep abasement, until he receives from God's hand that which God's promise had assured to him. The persecution by Saul lasted about ten years, and his kingship in Hebron, at first only incipient, seven years and a half. He left it entirely to God to remove Saul and Ishbosheth. He let Shimei curse. He left Jerusalem before Absalom. Submission to God's guidance, resignation to His dispensations, contentment with that which was allotted to him, are the distinguishing traits of his noble character.” (Franz Delitzsch) "Let all good men, all the children of God, in like manner, modestly place their confidence and hope in the Lord, as long as their live; and choose rather to be depressed, than by any undue means to raise themselves to greatness and honour." (Thomas Coke)
“‘O Israel, hope in Yahweh from this time forth and forever.’ An appeal to Israel at large- “The preceding psalm ended with the same call; but there God’s mercy in dealing with sin was principally in question, while here His sufficiency for all a soul’s wants is implied. The one secret of forgiveness and deliverance from iniquity is also the secret of rest from tyrannous longings and disturbing desires. Hope in Jehovah brings pardon, purity, and peace.” (Expositor's Bible Commentary) “Though David could himself wait patiently and quietly for the crown designed him, yet perhaps Israel, the people whose darling he was, would be ready to attempt something in favour of him before the time; he therefore endeavours to quiet them too, and bids them, ‘hope in the LORD’ that they should see a happy change of the face of affairs in due time.” (Matthew Henry)
After the example of the king of Israel, "who thus demeaned himself in his afflictions, lowly, contented, and resigned, casting all his care upon the Father who cared for him, and patiently waiting his time for deliverance and salvation; after this their example and pattern, let His faithful people hope and trust, not in themselves, their wisdom, or their power, but in Jehovah alone, who will not fail to exalt them, as He hath already exalted their Redeemer, if they do but follow His steps.” (Bp. Horne) “They who hope in Jesus, and wait for His salvation, may confidently expect to partake of it, not only in time but in eternity; and shall be sure to possess it, if they continue to live by faith in the Son of God." (Thomas Coke)