Psalm 131 - Hope in Surrender

GREETINGS

SAY: Honor to be with the men.

INTRODUCE: Yourself, Church.

INSTRUCT: Have Bibles? Turn to Psalm 131

INSTRUCT: Let’s Read Together

READ:

Psalm 131 ESV

A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 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. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.

PRAY

Thank

Jesus

Opportunity

Those present

Ask

Holy Spirit (clarity, say what He wants, softened ears, eyes, hearts, and minds)

Receive

God

Help to receive His word, His son, and His grace

INTRODUCTION

Setup

Friends, our text today is simple and should be modeled. Our text today reminds us what a quieted soul, a surrendered soul, a soul that trusts fully on Christ should look like.

No sermon illustration - let’s have the text to permeate our heart and minds this evening.

It is a reminder that we must have a particular posture towards the Lord.

Main Point:

Found in another passage of scripture - the very words of Christ Himself: Matthew 18:1-4

Matthew 18:1–4 ESV

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Main point is Matthew 18:3-4 - we must be like children before the Lord

Explain How Text Proves Point

Let’s take a look at the text: Psalm 131:1

Psalm 131:1 ESV

1 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.

1a. David does not raise his heart (often associated with pride) or his eyes (often associated with understanding) too high. He properly adjusts the posture of them before the Lord. 

Seeing is believing quote.

Doubting Thomas: John 20:25

John 20:25 ESV

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

1b. David does not allow what occupies him (his mind and strength) to be things that are too great or too marvelous for him. His occupation is the Lord.

We occupy ourselves in either thought or action. David does not allow himself in thought or action to be overtaken or occupied by things outside of what is in his control.

Matthew 6:28–30 ESV

28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Psalm 131:2 ESV

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

Sit on “But I have calmed and quieted my soul”

My daughters have never asked me IF we are going to eat.

David has calmed and quieted his soul because he has postured his heart, his eyes, and his occupations under the authority of Christ - David knows his place and does not try to live outside of it.

Because of Davids posture, his soul is quieted - anxiety, fear, worry, doubt are all cast off. Like a weaned child David’s soul is satisfied and dependent fully on God. His concerns are only that of being found in the Father. His concerns are the Father. 

Psalm 131:3 ESV

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.

David points the people of Israel, and us, to hope in the Lord and to be as a child in Matthew 18.

Where is your heart? Is it inflated and lofty with pride? Where are your eyes? Are they fixed on the Lord? How about your occupations? Are you overwhelmed with anxieties and fears?

Do you wish to be like a child once more, free and full dependent on the one who holds all things in the universe together for His good and our benefit?

Then respond like the child in Matthew 18 and come to Him.