Humility in Psalm 131 Leads to Quiet Hope

Matthew 18:4 contends, “Whoever humbles himself [like a child] is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” We are to bow—and not lift—our hearts. We are to lower—and not raise—our eyes too high. As Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “…God is in heaven and you are on earth.”

Perspective matters. Sober-thinking matters.

“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 marvelous for me.” Psalm 131:1

Matthew 23:12 says it more emphatically: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” James repeats the same message. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10).

Likewise, in this psalm David outright rejects pride. Humility. Meekness. Christlikeness.

Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” David refused to involve himself with things too great or too marvelous. He seems to convey his self-effacing humility. He does not involve himself in things above his responsibility. There’s a quote from the movie, Rudy, that is appropriate to this psalm. Father Cavanaugh states, “There is a God; I am not him.” David, in essence, is repenting of any arrogance. He is acknowledging his place as a worm in God’s Kingdom. Or as Theodore Cuyler says in God’s Light on Dark Clouds, “Tomorrow belongs to our Heavenly Father: I would not know its secrets if I could. It is far better to know Whom we trust…The mystery of the providence perplexes and staggers us.”

The things of God are too great and too marvelous.

“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131:2

David incorporates an illustration. This humbling truth—that an exalted Lord causes us to drop our eyes and heart and not even touch the eternal truths of God—delivers a quietness of soul. Confident. Calm. Quiet.

“…the secret of divine comfort is found in complete, quiet, and joyful yielding to the will of God.” J. R. Miller, The Ministry of Comfort

Like a weaned child, the soul of the humble is calmed and quieted. In the throes of loss, it’s good to reject pride and embrace humility. Surpassing peace and perfect rest are ours if we turn to God only with complete humility and receive it.

The fruit of this humility, beyond calmness and quietness, is unhindered hope. This is a steadfast hope that cannot be removed from our hearts. It is ours forevermore—an eternal gift. In Romans 12:12, Paul instructs us, “Rejoice in hope…” This is Israel’s hope. This is the hope of the church today. Remember, God is in heaven, and we are on earth (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

This world is marked by pain. We live in a broken, pain-filled world. And yet, hope is for now. From this very time. Hope extends into eternity. It is unstoppable.

Humility leads to quiet calmness of the soul which leads to hope.

“O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalm 131:3