WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:05.240 Psalm 131, a song of ascents of David. 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:09.599 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up. 00:00:10.339 --> 00:00:12.679 My eyes are not raised too high. 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:17.420 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:23.559 But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother. 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:27.280 Like a weaned child is my soul within me. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:33.600 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:42.079 As I mentioned, this is one of my favorite psalms because it highlights what we so love about God 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:50.180 and also what our soul so desperately needs, what our souls need. 00:00:50.180 --> 00:00:56.960 And namely, it teaches us that we should humble ourselves before the Lord in quietness of trust. 00:00:58.020 --> 00:01:01.880 In three verses, verse 1 speaks of lowering ourselves. 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:04.939 Verse 2 speaks of quieting ourselves. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:07.540 Verse 3 speaks of hoping in the Lord. 00:01:09.060 --> 00:01:11.980 First, the psalmist speaks of lowering ourselves before God. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:14.879 Verse 1, O Lord, my heart is not lifted up. 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:16.780 My eyes are not raised too high. 00:01:16.780 --> 00:01:20.680 I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 00:01:21.260 --> 00:01:27.180 So the three parallel expressions there all in verse 1, they all speak of humbling ourselves before God. 00:01:27.580 --> 00:01:30.680 Our heart should not be lifted up before God. 00:01:30.740 --> 00:01:32.720 Our eyes should not be raised too high. 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:37.040 And we should not occupy ourselves with things too great and too marvelous for us. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:40.340 I was reading Deuteronomy 29 recently. 00:01:40.660 --> 00:01:41.719 Verse 29 says, 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:44.120 The secret things belong to the Lord our God. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:48.540 But the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, 00:01:49.020 --> 00:01:50.700 that we may do all the words of this law. 00:01:51.480 --> 00:01:53.980 There are things that God has hidden from us. 00:01:54.740 --> 00:01:57.980 There are things that are beyond our knowledge and experience. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:01.719 There are things that are not revealed to us in God's word 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:04.560 because we do not need to preoccupy ourselves with them. 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:09.360 And how often are we filled with fear and anxiety 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:14.180 because we are preoccupied with burdens that God never intended for us to bear. 00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:18.300 God commands us to share the gospel faithfully 00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:22.400 and to entrust to Him the fruitfulness of our ministry. 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:27.460 But how often we are unduly deflated 00:02:27.460 --> 00:02:31.640 by the seeming failure of our gospel sharing 00:02:31.640 --> 00:02:35.000 or unduly inflated by its seeming success, right? 00:02:36.219 --> 00:02:39.000 God commands us to love Him with all of our hearts 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:41.100 and to love our neighbors as ourselves 00:02:41.100 --> 00:02:43.980 in the midst of this pandemic too. 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:45.460 That's what God calls us to do. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:48.900 But how often are we preoccupied more with 00:02:48.900 --> 00:02:51.659 what our government is doing or not doing? 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:56.040 How often are we preoccupied with how long this pandemic will last 00:02:56.039 --> 00:03:00.019 over which we have no control apart from acting responsibly for ourselves? 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:03.359 God calls us to live faithfully today 00:03:03.359 --> 00:03:06.239 because each day has enough trouble of its own. 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:09.439 But how often do we preoccupy ourselves with tomorrow? 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:14.579 When we lift up our hearts and raise our eyes too high 00:03:14.579 --> 00:03:17.439 and occupy ourselves with things that are too great 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:18.620 and too marvelous for us, 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:19.579 then we get overwhelmed 00:03:19.579 --> 00:03:22.539 because ultimately we're trying to be God. 00:03:22.539 --> 00:03:26.379 And being God is impossibly overwhelming to human beings. 00:03:27.500 --> 00:03:30.099 So we should instead humble ourselves before the Lord 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:31.799 in quietness of trust. 00:03:32.899 --> 00:03:35.639 And the quietness of trust is depicted in verse 2 this way, 00:03:36.359 --> 00:03:38.560 But I have calmed and quieted my soul 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:40.959 like a weaned child with its mother. 00:03:41.780 --> 00:03:44.840 Like a weaned child is my soul within me. 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:47.680 Back in the ancient world, 00:03:47.859 --> 00:03:51.039 children were breastfed for usually three years. 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:55.679 I know that sounds like an extraordinarily long amount of time for nowadays. 00:03:56.579 --> 00:04:00.699 So a freshly weaned child would be about three years old, 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:03.560 which is about the age of Inji, my second daughter. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.159 And she walks and runs around fairly well, 00:04:08.399 --> 00:04:10.759 but she's still clumsy, falls often. 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:15.139 She certainly can't walk for very long, 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:17.339 so she needs to be carried on longer walks. 00:04:17.339 --> 00:04:19.639 When I take her outside, 00:04:19.739 --> 00:04:21.719 I still hold her hand while walking 00:04:21.719 --> 00:04:24.599 or carry her because she stumbles a lot. 00:04:25.179 --> 00:04:27.899 And she's not shy about asking for help. 00:04:28.339 --> 00:04:30.179 She's keenly aware of her limitations, 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:32.759 especially because she has a sister who's three years older 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:35.879 and is therefore more competent than her in almost every way. 00:04:36.539 --> 00:04:38.239 So she often says things like, 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:38.559 you know, 00:04:38.659 --> 00:04:40.000 I don't know how to do that 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:42.099 or I'm not old enough to do it. 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:43.980 And she asks me for help. 00:04:45.320 --> 00:04:46.500 When she's afraid, 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:48.340 if there's a scary scene in a movie 00:04:48.340 --> 00:04:51.000 or if there's a dog approaching out in the park, 00:04:51.220 --> 00:04:53.820 she comes to me and grabs hold of my leg or arm. 00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:56.040 And so all of these, 00:04:56.140 --> 00:04:57.980 this is what a weaned child does. 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:00.080 In such a way, 00:05:00.580 --> 00:05:03.040 we have to calm and quiet our souls 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.879 like a weaned child with its mother. 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:09.740 The contrast between verse 1 and verse 2 00:05:09.740 --> 00:05:10.699 is so instructive 00:05:10.699 --> 00:05:13.180 because pride is busy. 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:15.339 Humility is calm. 00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:19.560 Pride inserts itself into every matter. 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:23.139 Humility entrusts all matters to God. 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:26.800 Pride presumes to be God-like. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:30.060 Humility assumes a childlike posture. 00:05:30.060 --> 00:05:35.740 The psalm reminds me of Matthew 14, 20-33 00:05:35.740 --> 00:05:37.480 when Peter's walking on the water 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:38.939 at Jesus' invitation. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:40.079 It says, 00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:40.660 Jesus said, 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:41.060 Come. 00:05:41.620 --> 00:05:42.840 And so Peter got out of the boat 00:05:42.840 --> 00:05:43.660 and walked on the water 00:05:43.660 --> 00:05:44.579 and came to Jesus. 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:46.939 But when he saw the wind, 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:48.360 he was afraid. 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:50.100 And beginning to sink, 00:05:50.180 --> 00:05:50.959 he cried out, 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:52.439 Lord, save me. 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:54.959 And Jesus immediately reached out his hand 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:55.680 and took hold of him, 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:56.199 saying to him, 00:05:56.279 --> 00:05:57.420 O you of little faith, 00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:58.459 why did you doubt? 00:05:58.459 --> 00:06:02.060 So when he walked out with faith in Jesus, 00:06:02.239 --> 00:06:03.019 Peter was fine. 00:06:03.799 --> 00:06:05.899 But when his eyes wandered to the waves 00:06:05.899 --> 00:06:06.979 caused by the wind, 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:09.779 he became afraid and began to sink. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:11.979 It's actually kind of comical 00:06:11.979 --> 00:06:12.799 if you think about it. 00:06:13.299 --> 00:06:16.279 He becomes afraid after seeing the wind, 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:18.459 as if in calmer conditions 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:20.279 he would have had no trouble walking on water. 00:06:21.419 --> 00:06:23.459 He has no business walking on water 00:06:23.459 --> 00:06:24.699 from the beginning, right? 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:26.560 It's all because of Jesus 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.100 that he's walking on the water 00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:29.920 in the first place. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:32.040 And yet he worries about the wind 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:33.259 and the waves 00:06:33.259 --> 00:06:35.360 as if that's something he needs to control. 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:38.780 But that's exactly what we do sometimes 00:06:38.780 --> 00:06:39.600 in our own lives. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:42.459 Like we were saved by grace through faith. 00:06:43.019 --> 00:06:44.360 And yet we think that we stay 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:46.699 in God's good graces by our own works. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:47.879 Right? 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:49.740 God graciously equipped us 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:51.199 with abilities and opportunities 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:53.000 so that we have the jobs that we have 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:54.439 and the resources that we have. 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:56.000 And yet we think and act 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:57.639 like we have arrived by our own strength. 00:06:58.500 --> 00:06:59.800 Like we need to preserve it 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:00.620 and hold on to it 00:07:00.620 --> 00:07:01.879 and cling to it 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:04.420 with our own resourcefulness 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:05.439 and hard work. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:08.139 Instead, we should humble ourselves 00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:08.779 before the Lord 00:07:08.779 --> 00:07:09.920 in quietness of trust. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:11.639 That's what the psalm is talking about. 00:07:12.339 --> 00:07:14.180 And we have a perfect example 00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:15.199 and fulfillment of this 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:15.939 in our Lord Jesus. 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:18.279 In 1 Peter chapter 2, 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:20.719 it tells believers 00:07:20.719 --> 00:07:23.779 to endure suffering 00:07:23.779 --> 00:07:24.899 while doing good. 00:07:25.599 --> 00:07:26.459 And he says that 00:07:26.459 --> 00:07:27.799 this is a gracious thing 00:07:27.799 --> 00:07:28.639 in the sight of God. 00:07:29.239 --> 00:07:31.079 And why is this a gracious thing? 00:07:31.179 --> 00:07:32.579 Why is this pleasing to God? 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:33.819 And he says, 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:36.319 it's because Christ also suffered for you. 00:07:37.059 --> 00:07:38.139 Leaving you an example 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:39.579 so that you might follow in his steps. 00:07:40.059 --> 00:07:41.339 He committed no sin, 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:43.059 neither was deceit found in his mouth. 00:07:43.059 --> 00:07:44.339 When he was reviled, 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:45.659 he did not revile in return. 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:46.419 When he suffered, 00:07:46.539 --> 00:07:47.399 he did not threaten. 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:50.099 But continued entrusting himself 00:07:50.099 --> 00:07:52.099 to him who judges justly. 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:54.939 He himself bore our sins 00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:55.819 in his body on the tree 00:07:55.819 --> 00:07:56.799 that we might die to sin 00:07:56.799 --> 00:07:57.779 and live to righteousness. 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:00.019 So Jesus, 00:08:00.739 --> 00:08:01.919 notwithstanding the fact 00:08:01.919 --> 00:08:03.599 that he was the Son of God, 00:08:04.099 --> 00:08:05.199 notwithstanding the fact 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:06.799 that he was the Messianic King, 00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:08.379 notwithstanding the fact 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:09.799 that he was perfectly righteous, 00:08:10.179 --> 00:08:12.359 he endured unjust suffering 00:08:12.359 --> 00:08:14.979 because he continued 00:08:14.979 --> 00:08:15.819 entrusting himself 00:08:15.819 --> 00:08:16.459 to his Father 00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:17.519 who judges justly. 00:08:18.479 --> 00:08:20.120 Even when he was charged 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:21.159 as guilty, 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:24.479 by a sham of a trial, 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:26.739 even when he was crucified 00:08:26.739 --> 00:08:28.399 for the sins of others, 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:29.699 when he was perfectly innocent, 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:31.539 he said to himself, 00:08:31.740 --> 00:08:33.000 my father's got this. 00:08:33.939 --> 00:08:35.379 My father's got this 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:37.019 and I can be like a weaned child 00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:37.639 before him. 00:08:38.199 --> 00:08:39.960 He humbled himself before God 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.480 in quietness and trust. 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:44.580 And as a result, 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:46.379 he was exalted above all other names. 00:08:47.400 --> 00:08:49.080 As a result of this, 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:49.879 God's people, 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:51.120 we were redeemed 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.680 from slavery to sin and death. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:55.620 And so, 00:08:55.780 --> 00:08:57.040 we are to follow the pattern 00:08:57.040 --> 00:08:57.740 set by Christ. 00:08:57.800 --> 00:08:59.340 Instead of exalting ourselves, 00:09:00.060 --> 00:09:01.120 instead of taking things 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:02.259 into our own hands, 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:04.180 we are to learn 00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:05.320 to humble ourselves 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:05.960 before the Lord 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:07.060 in quietness of trust. 00:09:07.059 --> 00:09:08.959 And that's how the psalm concludes 00:09:08.959 --> 00:09:09.639 in verse 3. 00:09:10.199 --> 00:09:10.839 O Israel, 00:09:11.079 --> 00:09:12.039 hope in the Lord 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:14.179 from this time forth 00:09:14.179 --> 00:09:15.339 and forevermore. 00:09:16.239 --> 00:09:16.839 If you notice, 00:09:16.979 --> 00:09:17.659 this psalm began 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:18.859 by calling upon the Lord, 00:09:18.979 --> 00:09:19.519 O Lord, 00:09:20.099 --> 00:09:20.919 and concludes 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:22.139 with hope in the Lord. 00:09:22.699 --> 00:09:23.579 God is to be 00:09:23.579 --> 00:09:24.599 our eternal hope 00:09:24.599 --> 00:09:25.639 and we are to invite others 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:26.599 to join in placing 00:09:26.599 --> 00:09:27.919 all our hope in God as well. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:29.119 That's what this psalm is doing. 00:09:29.839 --> 00:09:30.739 So let's ask ourselves, 00:09:30.859 --> 00:09:32.039 are we exhorting one another 00:09:32.039 --> 00:09:33.179 to put our hope in God 00:09:33.179 --> 00:09:35.579 or in other things? 00:09:36.479 --> 00:09:37.599 When we are counseling 00:09:37.599 --> 00:09:38.179 one another, 00:09:38.439 --> 00:09:39.719 when we are giving advice 00:09:39.719 --> 00:09:40.699 to one another, 00:09:40.979 --> 00:09:42.219 when we are consoling 00:09:42.219 --> 00:09:42.679 one another 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:43.719 in the various sins 00:09:43.719 --> 00:09:44.919 and sufferings of our lives, 00:09:44.959 --> 00:09:45.819 what do we point 00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:46.719 each other to? 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:48.500 Do we point one another 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:49.539 to our own resilience, 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:51.939 our own resourcefulness, 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:53.239 or to other people, 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:55.299 or to some vague assurance 00:09:55.299 --> 00:09:55.799 that everything 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:56.679 is going to be okay? 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:57.679 Instead, 00:09:58.939 --> 00:09:59.439 we should say, 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:00.639 hope in the Lord 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:02.519 from this time forth 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:03.939 and forevermore. 00:10:04.959 --> 00:10:06.259 Entrust yourself to Him 00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:07.539 in quietness and trust. 00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:09.639 Do not be haughty, 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:10.519 don't raise your eyes, 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:11.599 don't lift up your heart. 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:13.279 Lower yourself before God 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:14.500 and be contented 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.019 in His care 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:15.679 and His providence. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:17.739 I think that's 00:10:17.739 --> 00:10:18.620 the message of the psalm. 00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:19.620 I think it's very relevant 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:22.139 because our natural, 00:10:22.339 --> 00:10:23.759 sinful human tendency 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:25.939 is to seek independence 00:10:25.940 --> 00:10:27.480 and self-sufficiency. 00:10:28.760 --> 00:10:30.000 But there is a sweetness 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:32.100 to being entrusted completely 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:33.040 to the care 00:10:33.040 --> 00:10:33.860 of our Heavenly Father 00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:34.320 this way.