Psalm 131. A short psalm. The one you read at dinner time when the kids have to rush off to sports or other extra curricular activities. Just pick a psalm. Make it a short one.
Charles Spurgeon called this psalm “one of the shortest Psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn.”
Psalm 131. Another pilgrimage psalm. A psalm about a humble heart. A psalm about a happy heart. A psalm about a hopeful heart.
Humble heart (vs 1). David uses three ‘not’ phrases. “Not lifted…not raised…not occupy.” He’s getting at what he feels, how he sees, and what he does. First, his heart will not be lifted. He won’t follow his heart. He won’t trust his heart. He won’t so much as lift it even a wee bit in case he’ll exalt himself over others. Second, his eyes will not be raised. He knew God hates haughty eyes (Proverbs 6:17). He won’t roll his eyes. He won’t wink maliciously (Proverbs 10:10). He won’t look down on others. Finally, he won’t occupy himself with “things too great and too marvellous.” Even though his feelings and his outward appearance are in check, he’ll watch what he does as well. He’ll be careful. Give up an inch and pride will take 100 miles. David wants to kill pride in every part of his being and in every part of his life. David wants a humble heart. So should we.
Happy heart (vs 2). David has found calm, quiet, and peace. To the core of his being. His soul. He has found the opposite of pride. He becomes like a weaned child. “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). A weaned child is a happy child. A weaned child is a satisfied child. A weaned child is restful, peaceful, and joyful. So is David’s heart. He has a happy heart. So should we.
Hopeful heart (vs 3). David has a humble heart and a happy heart because there’s hope. Because he has God. David knows his humility and happiness don’t come from himself. They come from God. They’re rooted in God. He shares this with God’s people. He basically says, “Israel, if this is what you want, start hoping in God and keep hoping in God!” Kill pride at all levels at all times. No self-reliance, no self-rule, no self-satisfaction, and no self-exaltation. He’s so excited about this he can’t help but share it with others. So should we.
Psalm 131. Takes seconds to read. Takes a life-time to learn. A humble heart, a happy heart, and a hopeful heart. A heart that can’t be shaken because of God’s commitment to us. A commitment he fulfilled in Jesus. A commitment he fulfilled for us and for Zach. Next time you read at dinner time, pick a psalm. Make it a short one. Make it Psalm 131.
Today’s Updates:
Zach has been agitated the last couple of days. This morning at 4am the doctor was called in because Zach’s heart rate was very high and he was extremely restless. They started him on a continuous IV pain medication to help settle him, but he was still agitated for most of today. At the time of writing this, Zach appears relaxed but his heart rate is still high, although not as high as it has been today. Please pray with us that God will grant Zach rest and that Zach will feel at peace in his situation.
Zach’s blood pressure was a bit low yesterday so they stopped some of his heart rate medications temporarily. We are thankful to report that Zach’s blood pressure is now normalized and he hasn’t needed any blood pressure support medications in the last couple of days.
Zach’s chest x ray yesterday showed that his left lung is re-inflated, but he still has pneumonia in both lungs. The doctor said that it looks like Zach may have an additional infection in his lungs. They did some tests that came back positive for a bacteria, but they’re still waiting to find out which bacteria it is. They’ve started him on some more strong broad-spectrum antibiotics to cover the infection until they find out more. The air leaks in Zach’s lungs are slowly healing now that Zach is breathing off the ventilator. The doctor said that Zach will still need both chest tubes for a while. Zach is on the trach mask but only requiring minimal oxygen, which we are once again happy to see!
We appreciate your continued prayers and support. We ask that you pray with us for rest and healing for Zach, and continue to ask God that Zach’s brain may fully recover.
“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.”
(Psalm 131)
