" 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. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother :my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and forever." (Ps. 131:)
The fifth book of which this psalm forms a part is the Deuteronomy of the book of Psalms. Corresponding to the last book of Moses it (in harmony with the significance of its number, five-God with man's weakness) recapitulates the experiences of the way, applying the principles of divine holiness, and looks forward as well to the end-sure and near-an end of such blessing that praise cannot be withheld, but bursts forth in fuller and fuller strains of music until at last the whole chorus of creation joins in the oft-repeated Halleluiahs. How cheering the thought that we are nearing the time when praise, feeble now, and mingled often with tears and prayers, shall be unhindered, full, and worthy of Him who is " above all blessing and praise."But meanwhile the lips need not be silent, nor the heart cold. " Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage."So here in this psalm we have something suited for the journey, something we can sing even now.
It is one of a group of fifteen " Songs of degrees, or Ascents." Whatever may be the opinions as to the exact and literal meaning of this expression, there need be no doubt that the thought to be conveyed is that these were songs which indicated approach, drawing near to God. "Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together :whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord." (Ps. 122:3, 4.) We see Israel, long estranged from their God, drawing near to Him and each step, as it were, is marked with a song. In captivity they cannot sing, " How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" (Ps. 137:4.), but now drawing near, "going up," their lips are again opened in song. These songs are fifteen in number, five, the number of the book, God with us, and three, complete manifestation. Such will be the experience of Israel returning to the Lord. Then will be completely manifested the fact that God is with them, the name of the city will be, Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there. (Ezek. 48:35.) The special psalm before us gives us the state of heart of the once proud and stubborn people, who had so long held out against the Lord with a brow of brass and a neck like an iron sinew. Now, their pride is broken, and in its place the simplicity of little children. In this childlike state they can at last say ''Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and forever."
But if we wish to see this state in its perfection, we need only look at One who could truly say, "I am meek and lowly in heart." He who emptied Himself, not of pride and haughtiness, as Israel must, for He had none of these, but of that which was His right, equality with God-equality of glory, as to His person He ever remained equal with God. Here we see meekness in all its perfection. That lowly One, who would have thought, save those with anointed eyes, that He was God over all blessed forever ? Obedience, dependence, subjection to the Father's will in all His intercourse with God :gentleness, kindness, sympathy, these characterized His intercourse with man. It was not difficult to approach Him ; little children were not afraid to be in His arms. Here was One who perfectly exemplified the spirit of our psalm.
Nor have we here merely that which is prophetic, or which gives us the picture of the Lord Jesus. We have as well something for our ourselves. This is the spirit for us to have, if we would know what real rest of soul is.''The proud He knoweth afar off." What, then, is a haughty heart? It is one that is satisfied with itself and occupied with itself. A heart whose personal interests are dearer than all else ; a heart which will brook no contradiction, allow no correction, for it is always right. Ah! such a heart may seem splendid to its owner, but how lonely and how cold !Now, if we are to enjoy God, the heart cannot be haughty. God has two dwelling-places :"I dwell in the high and holy place,"-heaven, surrounded by " light inapproachable," by seraphim who vail feet and faces before that Majesty. But God has another dwelling-place-"with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." (Is. 57:15.)In the fourteenth chapter of John, our Lord speaks of these two dwelling-places:" In my Father's house are many mansions." (5:2.)"If a man love Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him." (5:23.)The word for mansion and abode is the same in the Greek. But how precious is this thought :He who fills heaven with His glory is pleased to dwell in the hearts of His people, who are not haughty !But the childlike spirit does not come to us naturally. The cross must be known, not only as the place where our blessed Lord hung for our sins, but where we were judged and set aside as unfit for God. Then His love and our worthlessness are seen, and we can sing,
"When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Lord of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride."
Lord, give Thy people this meek and childlike spirit!
Having this spirit, the desire to be something, or to strain after what is beyond us, is checked. In one sense, we are never to settle down satisfied with present attainments. The spirit of Phil. 3:should ever be ours ; "not as though I had already attained." But there is a spirit of restlessness, of effort, which so far from indicating true progress, is a hindrance to it. " Not boasting of things without our measure," says the apostle whose motto was forward.
Beautifully exemplified is this spirit in Mary. Her sister Martha was exercising herself in great matters, in things too high for her unaided strength. Mary does nothing but drink in at the Master's feet what He has to say to her. "A weaned child." Isaac was circumcised the eighth day. It was a good while after that he was weaned. Circumcision is the seal of death put upon us, a sign, we might say, that we belong to God, through Christ's death. Weaning is the practical carrying out of that death in the daily life :it is the bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. (2 Cor. 4:10.) There was a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. Joy had its proper place there. Just as in the case of Israel sheltered by the blood of the Lamb in Egypt, it was not until they were weaned from that house of bondage, at least externally, that the joy of Exodus 15:, the song of deliverance bursts forth. Samuel was dedicated to the Lord before his birth, but it was not until he was weaned (i Sam. 1:24) that he was carried up to the house of the Lord, there to learn from Him.
A feast-the Lord's house-these are the thoughts connected with weaning. It is the giving up of the old things for that which is better. Many of God's children are babes, and remain so all their life. Such, the apostle says are carnal (i Cor. 3:) not able to eat strong meat. In another sense, we are to be babes always, " as new-born babe, desire milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby." (i Pet. 2:) We are to be always receivers from the Word, but we are not to be carnal, such as need the most elementary truths, and never get any further.
This brings us to the other thought about weaning- progress. " That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine . . . but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things which is the head even Christ." (Eph. 4:14, 15.) There is a great difference between being childish and childlike. When the apostle became a man, he put away childish things; but he ever retained the childlike spirit. In other, words, his soul was like a weaned child.
It is this spirit which enjoys the future, well knowing that with God for us no harm can befall. May we all know more of the spirit of this small but beautiful psalm. There is not the martial ring of conflict and victory in it, but there is the fulfillment of that word which says, " In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." (Is. 30:15.)