Psalm 131

Humble Submission to God

A song of degrees of David, in which he expresses his feelings when exercising his royal authority and teaches proper submissiveness to the heavenly Father.

V. 1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, filled with arrogant pride on account of his elevation from the lowly position of shepherd to that of the king of Israel, nor mine eyes lofty, for the pride of the heart finds its expression chiefly in the eyes; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, with the officious meddling of such as think that no important matter can be decided and carried out without their assistance, or in things too high for me, for the proud in heart disdain to engage in the trivial matters of every-day life, believing themselves to be called for great and decisive matters only. The characterization of the proud is brief, but inclusive and fitting.

V. 2. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, the figure being that of a weaned child clinging with perfect contentment to his mother, as a child that is weaned of his mother, and therefore perfectly satisfied; my soul is even as a weaned child.

“As the weaned child no longer cries, frets, and longs for the breast, but lies still and is content, because it is with its mother, so the poet’s soul is weaned from all discontented thoughts, from all fretful desires for earthly good, waiting in stillness upon God, finding its satisfaction in His presence, resting peacefully in His arms” (Perowne).

The closing admonition, therefore, is a fitting addition: v. 3. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and forever, looking to Him alone for help and assistance, for sustenance and strength; for He resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble in every circumstance of life, no matter what it may be.