WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.859 Psalm 131. 00:00:05.179 --> 00:00:09.140 A song of ascents of David. 00:00:10.939 --> 00:00:14.960 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up. 00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:17.920 My eyes are not raised too high. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:23.460 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:27.039 But I have calmed and quieted my soul. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:32.600 Like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. 00:00:33.820 --> 00:00:39.320 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. 00:00:43.219 --> 00:00:49.679 Well, the great 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon says in Psalm 131 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:54.420 that it's one of the shortest to read but longest to learn. 00:00:55.280 --> 00:00:57.920 It's one of the shortest to read but longest to learn. 00:00:58.020 --> 00:01:01.100 And that's a pretty big claim because there's 150 Psalms. 00:01:01.700 --> 00:01:04.939 It takes up a big chunk of the Bible and there's some weird stuff in the Psalms. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:11.760 Why would Spurgeon say that Psalm 131 is one of the longest for us to learn? 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:19.580 I think it's because Psalm 131 is about contentment, finding satisfaction. 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:24.760 And the world we live in struggles to find contentment. 00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:28.860 It's almost impossible to find satisfaction. 00:01:30.360 --> 00:01:35.920 Psychologists have come up with a term which describes the cycle of discontentment we go through in life. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:38.600 They call it the hedonistic treadmill. 00:01:39.260 --> 00:01:40.379 The hedonistic treadmill. 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:46.359 Psychologist Frank McAndrew describes the hedonistic treadmill this way. 00:01:46.599 --> 00:01:47.040 He says, 00:01:47.040 --> 00:02:12.640 Have you felt the feeling of being on this treadmill? 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:13.679 I know I have. 00:02:14.559 --> 00:02:16.659 And it starts when we're young, when we're children. 00:02:17.779 --> 00:02:23.919 When I was a kid I'd watch ads on the TV about toys and I would really want these toys. 00:02:24.059 --> 00:02:25.679 And I would nag my parents for these toys. 00:02:26.259 --> 00:02:32.799 And then maybe eventually on my birthday or Christmas my parents would generously buy me one of those toys. 00:02:33.399 --> 00:02:35.060 And I'd be super happy about it. 00:02:35.279 --> 00:02:36.239 I'd play with it. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:41.580 And then in about two days I would start losing interest in it. 00:02:42.659 --> 00:02:50.280 But it would be at that point where I'd feel that disappointing feeling of that thing which I'd put so much hope in. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:53.200 That thing that would bring me so much joy. 00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:59.460 So even as children we know the experience of being on this treadmill. 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:02.480 And it continues on through life. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:07.099 What are the things that you have put your hope in? 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:11.000 But when you finally got it you felt that feeling of disappointment. 00:03:12.179 --> 00:03:17.000 Or maybe you felt that it wasn't actually as satisfying as you thought it was going to be. 00:03:18.079 --> 00:03:20.379 Or you were fearful that you could lose it. 00:03:21.239 --> 00:03:24.359 Or it caused you to start worrying about how you could stuff it up. 00:03:25.959 --> 00:03:27.500 Was it that relationship? 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:29.819 Was it that marriage? 00:03:30.659 --> 00:03:31.919 Was it that child? 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:33.759 The house? 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:35.299 The renovation? 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:37.179 The job? 00:03:38.299 --> 00:03:39.319 The iPhone? 00:03:39.539 --> 00:03:40.299 The new toy? 00:03:41.780 --> 00:03:45.599 What did you do instead once it disappointed you? 00:03:47.379 --> 00:03:51.039 What is the thing you don't have now but think will finally make you happy? 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:53.399 We're all stuck on the treadmill. 00:03:54.519 --> 00:03:57.560 Many people recognise they're on the treadmill and try and get off. 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:02.819 They might turn to things like Buddhism and meditation to just remove all desires. 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:07.180 Or they'll try the secular route of minimalist living. 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:10.840 There's a craze right now of decluttering your life. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:11.900 Marie Kondo. 00:04:11.900 --> 00:04:13.180 If it doesn't give you joy. 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:14.340 If it doesn't give you joy get rid of it. 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:17.699 We only need to live off what we actually need. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:19.780 And so get rid of everything you don't need. 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:23.100 Create a tiny house and that will make you happy. 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:29.900 But the problem with these methods is they still keep you stuck on the treadmill. 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:37.480 You're still believing that these things or this way of living is what you need to find peace and joy. 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:39.780 But even then that still doesn't deliver. 00:04:39.779 --> 00:04:49.039 I have a friend in Melbourne who was living in a van and he told me all the amazing minimalist reasons why living in a van with his wife was really good. 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:53.000 And then he proceeded to complain about it for a long period of time. 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:57.299 His wife is a nurse so she has to do her shifts and then go home and live in a van. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:00.479 It didn't work out for them. 00:05:02.359 --> 00:05:05.519 Getting off the treadmill seems impossible. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:11.139 Which is why we need to begin to learn the lesson of Psalm 131 this morning. 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:15.620 Now Psalm 131, David wrote it as a song of ascents. 00:05:16.299 --> 00:05:25.379 And our best guess is that a song of ascents is a song that pilgrims would sing as they made their way to Jerusalem and the temple for a festival. 00:05:26.899 --> 00:05:34.439 And in this Psalm, David shows the pilgrims and us how he got off the treadmill and found true contentment. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:38.419 Now in this Psalm, we're going to work from the outside in. 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:42.899 In verse 1, we're going to see the fruit of contentment. 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:46.859 Next in verse 2, we're going to see the method of contentment. 00:05:47.539 --> 00:05:51.719 And in verse 3, we're going to finish by seeing the source of contentment. 00:05:52.919 --> 00:05:59.500 So what does it look like when someone has got off the treadmill, finally got off the treadmill and found contentment? 00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:04.660 In verse 1, we see the fruit of contentment is a lack of pride. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.360 And David denies pride in three areas. 00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:14.040 First, he denies pride in his heart when he says, 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:17.439 Oh Lord, my heart is not lifted up. 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:21.879 The New American Standard Bible translates this as, 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:23.360 My heart is not proud. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:26.879 David doesn't have a big opinion of himself. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:30.620 This is pretty big coming from the great King David. 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:32.439 This would have been written later in his life. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.740 He had all the reasons to be proud and he's not. 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:41.379 Second, he denies pride in his eyes when he says, 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:44.740 My eyes are not raised too high. 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:47.139 What does that mean? 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:49.480 Tremper Longman helpfully says, 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:54.480 This is equivalent to a person today saying that they do not look down their noses at people. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:00.740 And third, he denies pride in his actions and thoughts when he says, 00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:06.160 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me. 00:07:07.340 --> 00:07:10.620 David's not out to accomplish things that are out of his control. 00:07:11.520 --> 00:07:14.939 He's not thinking about things that are out of his control. 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:21.079 Now this is the fruit of contentment. 00:07:21.259 --> 00:07:24.719 Why is lack of pride a fruit of contentment? 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:27.740 What's the connection between those two things? 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:34.800 I think it's because the goals we long for on the treadmill that we're running towards 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:37.699 are often things that are out of our control. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:39.459 Things too wonderful and marvellous. 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:45.159 You know, we want that person to reciprocate our feelings for them. 00:07:45.799 --> 00:07:48.139 We want to have perfect children. 00:07:49.019 --> 00:07:50.599 We want to have great health. 00:07:50.739 --> 00:07:52.479 We want to have financial security. 00:07:53.919 --> 00:07:56.279 And all of those things are out of our control. 00:07:57.079 --> 00:08:01.039 But when we think we have control over those goals, we feel proud. 00:08:01.599 --> 00:08:04.599 We have achieved what is great and marvellous. 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:09.120 And then we look down on others who don't have control over those things, 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:10.840 who don't have it together like we do, 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:15.000 who don't have the good children or the good financial security. 00:08:15.660 --> 00:08:18.020 And this just further fuels our pride. 00:08:19.080 --> 00:08:22.640 But the problem is we don't have control over these things. 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:25.020 We have... 00:08:25.020 --> 00:08:25.600 It's a... 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:28.500 Our sense of a control is just this temporary illusion 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:34.659 and we sooner or rather find out that it's all a lie 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:37.519 and we're just devastated when we realise that. 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:41.879 But when we've found true contentment like David has, 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:44.899 we don't need to worry about things that are out of our control. 00:08:45.179 --> 00:08:47.000 We don't need to look down on others 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.460 to make ourselves feel good about ourselves. 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:51.779 When we have true contentment, 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:55.299 it disarms our desires which lead to pride. 00:08:55.299 --> 00:09:01.620 How amazing would it be to not be proud, 00:09:02.059 --> 00:09:03.299 to not look down on others, 00:09:03.939 --> 00:09:06.459 to not worry about things out of our control? 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:08.299 How amazing would this church be 00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:10.679 if we were characterised by that corporately? 00:09:11.659 --> 00:09:12.899 How do we achieve that? 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:14.279 How do we achieve this? 00:09:15.219 --> 00:09:19.120 Well, we gain this contentment which leads to a lack of pride. 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:22.219 In verse 2, David shows us the method. 00:09:22.839 --> 00:09:23.299 He says, 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:27.699 But I have calmed and quieted my soul. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.240 The soul of someone who is not content 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:33.959 is like a raging sea tossing to and fro. 00:09:34.439 --> 00:09:37.299 But the person who has found contentment, 00:09:37.959 --> 00:09:44.219 their soul is like a calm and quiet and still lake. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:48.919 And David achieves this calmness of soul by being weaned. 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:50.899 He says, 00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:53.599 Like a weaned child with its mother, 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:57.819 like a weaned child is my soul within me. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:03.519 Now, there are various ways we could read into this imagery of weaning, 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:05.799 and I'm not an expert on weaning. 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:10.360 But commentators are also divided on how you translate the word, 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:12.059 translated wean here. 00:10:12.059 --> 00:10:16.859 See, it could be the child is at the age where they've been weaned off breast milk, 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:20.000 and now they've moved on to solid food. 00:10:20.099 --> 00:10:23.299 And we could sort of read into that imagery a bit. 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:29.159 Or it could just mean that the child's been nursed and is content to just sit with its mother. 00:10:30.579 --> 00:10:32.120 But either way we take it, 00:10:32.359 --> 00:10:36.719 the child is content to just sit and be in the presence of its mother. 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:39.539 It doesn't want what the mother can give it. 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:44.479 It's just happy and satisfied being with mum. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:48.080 David's method of contentment, 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:51.000 achieving quiet and calmness of soul, 00:10:51.420 --> 00:10:57.180 is finding rest and satisfaction in something greater than the things of this world. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:01.480 See, we can't just not be proud. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:04.120 We can't just force ourselves to not be proud. 00:11:04.180 --> 00:11:06.600 We can't just quiet and calm our own soul. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:09.000 We need a greater affection. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:11.740 We need a greater force to do this. 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:15.600 We need something that can actually provide us with lasting contentment 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:17.940 and get us off the treadmill. 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:22.860 Otherwise, we then just shift from one treadmill goal to the other. 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.560 Over the last few years, 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:27.700 there's been a lot of talk about the great resignation. 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:29.480 Maybe you've heard about the great resignation. 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:32.440 In the face of the COVID crisis, 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:36.860 people have come to realise that their job wasn't the path to contentment. 00:11:38.060 --> 00:11:40.000 And so they've been resigning from their jobs 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.200 and wanting to focus on what they think is more important. 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:45.700 Their families, travel, health. 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:49.519 And there's some aspects of that which are really good, 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:52.919 but really they're just swapping one treadmill for another. 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:56.019 Families, travel, health, 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:58.580 can't provide lasting true contentment, 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:00.360 no matter how good they are. 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:05.399 So what has the power to give us rest and satisfaction 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:07.360 greater than the things of this world? 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:11.360 In verse 3, we see the source of contentment. 00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:18.639 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:23.159 In verses 1 and 2, we've been listening to David talk to God, 00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:26.500 but now he calls to God's people 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:30.279 and reveals the source of his contentment is the Lord. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.740 Yahweh, the great I am. 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:36.139 Through hoping in the Lord, 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:40.659 David was able to find contentment and quiet and calm his soul. 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:44.740 And now he calls Israel to join him in finding contentment 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.200 by hoping in God. 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:50.720 What does it mean to hope in the Lord? 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:54.800 Well, the biblical definition of hope is not wishful thinking. 00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:57.560 I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:59.360 so I can finally put my clothes on the line. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:01.160 It's not wishful thinking. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:05.120 It's confident expectation in God to fulfill his promises. 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:07.480 He's fulfilled his promises in the past. 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:10.000 He's going to fulfill his promises in the future. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:15.840 And Psalm 131 was purposely placed after Psalm 130 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:19.820 so that we could learn what hope we have. 00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:23.080 Look at Psalm 130 verses 7 and 8. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:24.560 It says, 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:27.120 O Israel, hope in the Lord. 00:13:27.260 --> 00:13:28.280 It's the exact same words. 00:13:29.400 --> 00:13:33.060 For with the Lord there is steadfast love 00:13:33.060 --> 00:13:36.160 and with him is plentiful redemption 00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:41.860 and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. 00:13:43.560 --> 00:13:46.600 Steadfast love, forgiveness, redemption, 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:51.379 relationship with God is at the heart of their hope in God. 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:56.340 See, our problem is we are running on the treadmill 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:59.100 trying to find contentment in everything but God 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:02.259 and we think we can reach it by just trying harder. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:07.860 But David is showing us that only God is the source of contentment. 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:11.700 And even though we've been running hard away from him, 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:15.919 he actually comes to us and does everything that we need. 00:14:17.300 --> 00:14:21.779 And the clearest picture of this hope is seen in the Lord Jesus. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.000 He is the reason we have, 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.159 we can hope in the Lord now and forevermore. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:30.959 In sending Jesus, 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:33.219 God's one and only son, 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:35.879 we see the ultimate expression of his steadfast love. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:38.959 In the death and resurrection of Jesus, 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:42.939 we see the ultimate and only means of redemption from sins. 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:48.459 In Jesus, we see the source of true contentment coming to us. 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:54.980 True contentment is found by hoping in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:59.920 Now, as we hope in Jesus, 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:01.340 as you hope in Jesus, 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:04.940 he will calm and quiet your soul 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:08.320 as you have assurance that he's dealt with your biggest problem. 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:12.460 And knowing that minimizes and relativizes 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:14.200 all the other problems we might face. 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.639 As you hope in the Lord, 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:20.000 you won't want to occupy yourselves with things too great and marvelous. 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:23.139 Instead, you can see every circumstance 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:27.279 as him inviting you to find contentment in him. 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:30.759 As you hope in the Lord Jesus, 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.360 you won't want to be proud or look down on others, 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:36.699 knowing that he did not look down his nose at you, 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:39.059 but instead counted himself nothing 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:41.720 so that you might be saved. 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:44.419 As you hope in the Lord Jesus, 00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:46.860 you won't try to find ultimate satisfaction 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:48.000 in the things of this world, 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.980 but instead you can receive them as a gift, 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:56.200 which lets you truly appreciate them for the things they are. 00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:59.200 Gifts from God which lead us to worshiping him. 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:01.259 A wife isn't a bad thing, 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:02.440 a child isn't a bad thing, 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.440 a house isn't a bad thing, 00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:04.899 but they're gifts from God. 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.299 They're not the ultimate thing. 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:10.439 When you find yourselves downcast 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:12.699 and in toil within you, 00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:15.179 you can preach to yourself saying, 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.759 hope in Jesus, 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:18.779 for I shall again praise him, 00:16:18.859 --> 00:16:20.439 my salvation and my God. 00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:24.459 Why would you want to be on the treadmill? 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:27.139 It's so tiring 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:31.580 when you can be like a calm child with its mother. 00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:34.240 The Lord Jesus, 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:36.300 the source of contentment, 00:16:36.400 --> 00:16:40.900 calls you to find hope in him now and forevermore. 00:16:41.780 --> 00:16:42.320 Let's pray. 00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:49.220 Lord, we praise you for all you are 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.480 and all you've done for us. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:55.899 Thank you for offering us true contentment in yourself. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:59.860 Lord, help us hope in Jesus, 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:01.320 the source of true contentment. 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:04.360 As we go about our weeks 00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:06.940 and we're tempted to find hope in the things of this world, 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.720 help us remember Christ. 00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:10.740 In his name, amen.