This morning’s sermon looked at Ps 131, a psalm which deals with the topics of humility, satisfaction and contentment, qualities which are sorely in need in today’s acquisitive, dissatisfied society. Its simplicity (only three verses long) may cause us to skip over its truths, but we need to linger here because these are such important topics in a world where arrogance, dissatisfaction and frustration seem to dominate.
The psalmist’s heart is not proud nor his eyes haughty. (Ps 131:1) Pride is one of the deadliest of all sins, but is often commended nowadays in the guise of ambition. Pride was at the heart of Satan’s downfall (Is 14:13-14) and many proverbs comment on how pride goes before a fall (Prov 16:18, 29:23). Paul reminded the Corinthians that arrogance can easily lead to our downfall (1 Cor 10:23) and Jesus told a parable about a proud Pharisee and a humble tax collector to illustrate that we must never allow self-righteousness to replace dependence on God (see Luke 18:9-14). The reason pride is so dangerous is that it steers us away from God and makes us believe that we can manage adequately without Him, thus creating an illusory reality which has no real substance.
The psalmist freely admits that he doesn’t know everything and that some things are beyond his understanding or his comprehension. Nowadays, that view is highly unpopular as we seek to increase our knowledge and understanding (no bad thing in itself), but we must understand that there will always be things we can’t fathom (see Deut 29:29, Job 42:3). Paul reminds the Corinthians that now we only know in part (see 1 Cor 13:12); we have to ‘surrender the hunger to say you must know/Have the courage to say “I believe”’, as Michael Card puts it in his song ‘God’s Own Fool.’
The psalmist likens himself to the contented state of a weaned child at its mother’s breast (Ps 132:2). Weaning is not a particularly comfortable process, as babies often react against the unfamiliarity of solid food and cannot understand the parents’ motivation in moving them on from milk! We too often rage against God when things don’t go our way or answers to prayer aren’t immediately forthcoming, but (as C. H. Spurgeon said) ‘It is a blessed mark of growth out of spiritual infancy when we can forgo the joys which once appeared to be essential, and can find our solace in Him who denies them to us.’
Paul tells Timothy that godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim 6:6) Contentment comes as we realise God is in control, no matter what the visible evidence around us may tell us. Contentment comes as we realise God is faithful and His love endures forever (Ps 136:1). Contentment comes as we realise God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Eph 3:20). Contentment comes as we realise that God is working for the good of those who love Him and that nothing can separate us from His love. (Rom 8:28-39) We can lie down and sleep in peace because God makes us dwell in safety. (Ps 4:8) All we have to do, the psalmist reminds us, is ‘put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.’ (Ps 131:1)