Psalms 131:1

The Bible says in Psalm 131:1-3, “LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.[2] Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.[3] Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.” Actually, this Psalm gives two requirements to be close to God. The first is humility as expressed in verse one. Humility is understanding that you are just a human being with your own set of frailties and limitations. Do not seek to be great. Rather, seek God. Jesus was humble in His first coming. Jesus was called “meek and lowly.” The Apostle Paul was humble. He said in First Corinthians 15:9, “I am the least of the apostles…” And he did not just say it: he meant it. Jesus told about someone who was truly humble a religious Pharisee to a common Publican. Jesus said in Luke 18:11-14, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.[12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.[13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” It says in First Peter 5:5, “…God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.”

Psalm 131:2 tells the importance, spiritually-speaking, of learning a lesson that a child can give. Children automatically understand that they are small and weak, and that they need someone bigger and stronger than them to take care of them. Have you learned what a child can teach you? Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Are you like a child in that you know that you need the Lord?

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