Being Enlarged through Lowliness and Submission


	PSALM 131: Being Enlarged through Lowliness and Submission By Knowing Ourselves, We Are Humbled and Brought Low Psalm 131 begins, "O Jehovah, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; nor do I go about in things too great or too wondrous for me" (v. 1). When we come to this experience we have gained some maturity. In Psalm 128, the last psalm from the stage of enjoyment, we were likened to a vine tree and an olive tree. This means that our growth in life had a certain manifestation. Our labor was fruitful and productive. Wherever we went, people received help. People appreciated us, and may even have followed us. This seems quite glorious. However, when we are like this, there is the danger that we will think we are "somebody." But then, in Psalm 129, we went through some plowing. We experienced affliction in our environment. The Lord cut us deeply so that life could grow even more. Soon afterward, in Psalm 130, we received light on our condition and saw who we really were. We realized that were not so great or so wonderful. Instead we were filled with iniquity. After receiving the plowing from the Lord's hand and the shining of the Lord's light, we can give the testimony here in Psalm 131: "O Jehovah, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty." In other words, we no longer think highly of ourselves. When saints are young in the church life they often think that they are important. Because they are so zealous to give themselves to the Lord, they feel that they are the hope for the church's future. Eventually they have opinions about the elders and the older saints. They even become disdainful. They may think, "Who are these elders? They are all so 'out-of-date.' We are the hope for the Lord's recovery!" This means that their eyes have become "haughty." They consider themselves to be higher than the other saints. But when the Lord comes to work on us and shines His light upon us, then our eyes look down. We no longer think that we are so important. We no longer think of ourselves as a vine tree, or as a mighty man with arrows, or as a great servant of the Lord. Instead, we walk with lowliness and humility. We realize that we are on the same level as all the other dear saints. We no longer measure ourselves against them because we are the same as they are. Then we can testify to the Lord, "I am have nothing to be proud of. I am not higher than anyone. I am just one of the brothers. My heart is not proud, and my eyes are not haughty. Lord, I am here by Your mercy." We No Longer Desire to be Exercised in Great Matters Furthermore, we can also testify, "Nor do I go about in things too great or too wondrous for me" (v. 1b). Not only do we no longer consider ourselves so high, but we no longer look for great things in which to participate. Suppose the Lord is moving dramatically in another country. This is a great matter, much greater than our local situation. If we are young in the Lord then once we hear about it we will immediately respond, "I am ready to go!" But after we see who we are in the Lord's light, then we are not so quick to respond. Instead we will pray and be restful. We can trust that the Lord will make it known to us if He wants us to go. When we receive the Lord's shining we become very careful. Because we see who we are, we do not trust ourselves. We learn not to "go about in things too great or too wondrous." We allow the Lord to lead us if we should be involved in something great that He is doing. There is a song (Chinese Hymn 305) written by a Quaker sister named Anna Laetitia Waring. One verse in particular fully corresponds to Psalm 131. It says, "I would not have the restless will that hurries to and fro, seeking for some great thing to do or secret thing to know; I would be treated as a child, and guided where I go." We often have a "restless will that hurries to and fro." In other words, our natural tendency is to go wherever the "action" is. If the place of action changes then we rush off in that direction. Furthermore, we are often "seeking for some great thing to do or secret thing to know." All of us would like to accomplish at least a few great things for the Lord. We all wish that we could go out on the street and preach the gospel and have hundreds of people get saved and baptized. We seek after "great things." So the writer of this hymn says, "I would not have the restless will that hurries to and fro, seeking for some great thing to do or secret thing to know." She does not want an unrestful will, rushing to and fro, from one activity to another. She does not desire to do great things, like holding big conferences and getting so many people saved. Furthermore, she doesn't even seek for some "secret thing to know." She is not after "secret" knowledge in which she can boast. Her motive towards the Lord is simple and pure. Then she says, "I would be treated as a child, and guided where I go." In other words, "Lord, I want to be so one with You. I want to be like a little child. Then I will know how to respond to Your move. I will know what it is You want from me. Lord, I am just here to be guided by You." This hymn matches the feeling of Psalm 131. As we have said, Psalm 131 is very different from the previous Psalms of Ascent. Not long ago we were like a "mighty man with arrows." We were like a fruitful vine and an olive tree. But now we are different. Because of the Lord's environmental arrangement and the shining of His light, we can say, "Lord, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; nor do I go about in things too great or too wondrous for me." We have reached a level of maturity. Both this psalm and this hymn have a sweet fragrance. When we have entered into this experience we may not do so much or be so active, yet our very person becomes a great blessing to the Lord's testimony. We Become As A Weaned Child, Submissive to the Lord Psalm 131 continues, "Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me" (v. 2). Before a child is weaned, he is very demanding. He will cry for milk at any time. Once he is weaned, he becomes very restful. He knows that the milk will come, so he is quiet. For the psalmist to become like a weaned child means that he is now a quiet, restful person. He knows how to behave properly. He has calmed and quieted his soul. When we are like very young children, spiritually speaking, the Lord constantly gives us "milk" whenever we ask for it. We can demand things from the Lord and He still tolerates us. The Lord even answers foolish prayers, because He knows that we are young. But sooner or later, after we grow, the Lord will not answer us in the same way. When we demand something from the Lord, He may say, "You are like a child crying at midnight. I will feed you according to My schedule. Now is not the time, so you will just have to wait." This does not mean that the Lord no longer meets our needs. It means that He is the one in charge, not us. We are like a weaned child, so we can no longer force Him to give in to us. The writer of this psalm has become such a person. He is not doing so many things to get the Lord's attention. He has become like a weaned child who has calmed and quieted his soul. He is no longer so demanding, but submissive to the Lord. Psalm 131 ends, "Hope in Jehovah, O Israel, from now and to eternity" (v. 3). When we read this verse we should have an abiding sense of worship. Now we are people with maturity. Our soul is like a weaned child, so that we are quiet and restful. We may not be so active, but we have a pure and simple desire to be one with the Lord. We enjoy submitting to Him. We are calm and restful in His presence and are available for His needs. Now we are able to properly care for the Lord's testimony. This concludes the stage of enlargement from the Psalms of Ascent. In the next and final stage we will see the full display of maturity. To purchase the book Journey of Life; the Psalms of Ascent and Song of Songs