The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary says this is a song of trust, originally sung as a sequel to a lament. You know what a sequel is – Spiderman – then Spiderman 2. After someone had cried out to God in their time of need and received a favorable answer, people were sometimes moved to gratitude to tell of their state of peace with the Lord. Israel makes it through the Red Sea – set up memorial stones so when our children ask what those stones are, we can tell them what the Lord did for us.
In Christianity – this Psalm could be summed up – (with emphasis) “Thank You Jesus”
One of the things I have been most neglectful of in the ministry is praying with people giving thanks to God for successful surgeries. I pray with them before the surgery and then when the doctor comes out and says, – It went well, I say, praise God – I’ll continue to pray and I’ll catch you later.
One of the most memorable gratitude prayers was a baby who had open heart surgery and I was with the dad and 20 year old cousin looking over the baby after the surgery and I asked the cousin to give thanks and she said, “Dear God…. and then just tears. No words, just tears of gratitude to God for a favorable answer.
So while this psalm would have been popular after a lament, and it is even in the book of Psalms ofter last week’s lament – out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord….
Later, this song of trust emerged as a distinct composition able to stand on it’s own. Still, there is a sense in the psalm that the serenity of the soul has won out over distress or sorrow.
“I look forward to looking back on this”. It’s looking back on it.
One theologian said this psalm was written by a hot blooded man who had once craved wealth, luxury, and pleasure. Eyes set on power and prestige. Full of unrest, pride, envy, and pretentiousness that gave no peace. But now all this has changed – In contrast to his old restless self, he has found peace.
And what has changed? Has he become resigned to life’s defeats? Has he grown tired and weary in old age? Has he simply given up?
No. The answer is found in verse 3 – hope in the Lord. Like the merchant in the New Testament who, after visiting many markets, discovered at length the pearl of great price, he has come to realize what is important. What brings satisfaction. So come what may, he trusts in the Lord and trusts Him with every issue.
It is written by David. Think about David’s life –
In the beginning David was humble – content to be with the sheep – even after he had been anointed king he went back to tend to the sheep. Then his brothers were out fighting the Phillistines and David took out supplies – did not set out to fight Goliath.
Charles Spurgeon: David could say, “My heart is not haughty.” His brother, Eliab, said that David was proud when he went down to carry his father’s present to his soldier brothers, but it was not so. His heart was content to be with the sheep—he was quite willing to follow the “ewes great with young.” When he was in Saul’s court (Anyone know what part David played for Saul? PLAYED…get it?), they thought him ambitious, but he was not so—he was quite satisfied to be a servant there, to fight the battles of Israel. The place of captain over a wandering band was forced upon him, but he would sooner have dwelt at home. And when he was king, he did not exalt himself. Absalom, when he was aspiring to the kingdom, was a far greater man to look at than his father David, for David walked in lowliness of spirit before the Lord. Whatever faults he had, he certainly had not the fault of vanity, or of being intoxicated in spirit with what God had done for him.
One could argue David had humble beginnings, then his fleshly appetite got the best of him, seeking after things that did not satisfy. And then he makes it back to humility and peace. I believe that is the story of so many of us.
As children, we begin being content. Somewhere along the way, many of us seek after the ways of the world and become discontent. And then, if we are fortunate, we again get to a point of humility. Of remembering what is important. And often times that comes from difficult life events. Again, Spurgeon says:
…we all trace our lineage to a gardener, who lost his place through stealing his Master’s fruit, and that is the farthest we can possibly go. Adam covers us all with disgrace, and under that disgrace we should all sit humbly down. Look into your own heart, and if you dare to be proud, you have never seen your heart at all. It is a mass of pollution. It is a den of filthiness. Apart from divine grace, your heart is a seething mass of putrefaction, and if God’s eternal Spirit were not to hold it in check, but to let your nature have its way—envy, lust, murder and every foul thing would come flying forth in your daily life! A sinner and yet proud! It is monstrous. As for children of God, how can they be proud? I fear we are all too much so. But what have we to be proud of? What have we that we have not received? How, then, can we boast? Are we dressed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness? We did not put a thread into it—it was all given us by the charity of Jesus. Are our garments white? We have washed them in the blood of the Lamb. Are we new creatures? We have been created anew by omnipotent power, or we should still be as we were. Are we holding on our way? It is God that enables us to persevere, or we should long ago have gone back. Have we been kept from the great transgression? Who has kept us? We certainly have not kept ourselves. There is nothing that we have of which we can say, “I did this and it is all my own,” except our faults and our sins, and over these we ought to blush. Yet, brethren, when the Lord favors us, especially in early life—though I do not know but what it is almost as much so with us who have got a little farther on—if you get a full sail and a favoring breeze, and the vessel scuds along before the wind, there is need of a great deal of ballast,
Ballast – Savannah Georgia has cobblestone streets along the river there. Those stones came as ballast from English ships that would take cotton, rice and sugar to the northeast and to Europe. They would come in with ballast – stones in the belly of the ship – dump them off and then load up with supplies. Savannah used the ballast for streets and buildings!
Spurgeon continues:or else there will soon be a tale to tell of a vessel that was upset and a sailor who was too venturesome, and was never heard of again! We have need continually to be kept lowly before God, for pride is the besetting sin of mankind. Oh, that God would give us to be as David was—not haughty, neither our eyes lofty. ~ Charles Spurgeon on Psalm 131
the Apostle Paul said
I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God, yet by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace toward me is not in vain.
Wesley questions – Are you going on to perfection?
Do you hope to achieve it?
With God’s help, I will.
Our confidence must be in the Lord God. I think that’s what makes young adult to middle adult life so difficult. We “throw out the ballast) in mid life because we are so self sufficient. When we are young, we rely on others, when we get older we have to rely on others. Yet, always, God wants to be our confidence and help. “A very present help in times of difficulty and stress.” But how about the rest of the time?
Sometimes our sanctification does not depend upon us changing our works, but in doing that for God’s sake which we commonly do for our own. ~ A maxim from Brother Lawrence
We have to get to the point of faith and trust in God come what may. And it’s best to get there before the valley comes.
“May I suggest to pastors that in the quietness of your study you do this? Imagine that America collapses. First anarchy, then tyranny — from the right or the left. Imagine that religious freedom is gone. What remains for Christians is fines, prison, exile, and martyrdom. Then ask yourself this: Has my preaching been developing real, radical Christians? Christians who can sing on the scaffold,
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever.
Christians who will act like the believers in Hebrews 10:34: “You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” Christians who will face hate and reviling and exclusion for Christ’s sake and yet “rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, [their] reward is great in heaven” (Luke 6:22–23).
Have you been cultivating real Christians who see the beauty and the worth of the Son of God? Have you faithfully unfolded and heralded “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8)? Are you raising up generations of those who say with Paul, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8)?
Have you shown them that they are “sojourners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11), and that their “citizenship is in heaven,” from which they “await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20)? Do they feel in their bones that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21)?
Or have you neglected these greatest of all realities and repeatedly diverted their attention onto the strategies of politics? Have you inadvertently created the mindset that the greatest issue in life is saving America and its earthly benefits? Or have you shown your people that the greatest issue is exalting Christ with or without America? Have you shown them that the people who do the most good for the greatest number for the longest time (including America!) are people who have the aroma of another world with another King?
Our confidence cannot be in an election or in a nation. It’s all temporary.
David Platt – Don’t come to church because music, preaching, programs…. Come because Jesus is here.
And then something funny happens – If we humble ourselves, place all our confidence in Jesus – what happens?
As a nation – 2 Chronicles 7:14 – if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Individually –
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”…
We can receive rest for our souls.
Elevation Church lyrics:
Are you hurting and broken within
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well
Jesus is calling
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Oh what a Savior
Isn’t He wonderful
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
Oh what a Savior
Isn’t He wonderful
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Bear your cross as you wait for the crown
Tell the world of the treasure you’ve found
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