Psalm 131 | A tale of two hearts

[Psalm 131] It is one of the shortest psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn.” C. Spurgeon

This psalm is a tale of two hearts: a restless heart and a resting heart.

Why are we not able to experience true peace?

We all want to have complete control. We all struggle with this.

David addresses this issue and how he was able to “calmed and quieted his soul.”

Let’s look at the first heart:

A restless heart

What does a restless heart look like? David describes a restless heart in verse 1.

First, a restless heart is a prideful heart.

Look at the first sentence of v.1, “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up.”

Jesus came to deliver us from a our biggest problem: a proud self-will

Self-trusting

Self- reliant

Self-absorbed

Independent/autonomous/ without God. “I did it my way!”

Second, a restless heart is an arrogant heart.

David declares, “my eyes are not raised too high.” (lit. haughty eyes)

The phrase “haughty eyes” is always used in the Bible to describe a person who is “arrogant, disdainful and setting oneself above others”

Arrogance is an expression of pride. Arrogance looks down on people.

David Powlison, Pride is not just about ME. It’s also about you. I must look down on you in some way. Pride says, “I’m right in myself.” Haughty eyes say, “I’m right compared to you.”

It is absorbed with self-image

King of the mountain

I look down on other people

Low-self esteem (you envy other people)

Irritable with people

Envy & criticize other people.

Third, a restless heart is an anxious heart

Look at the second sentence in v.1, “I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.”

What is meant by “things too great.” is not made clear. There is nothing wrong with wanting to do great things. We are to follow William Carey’s advice, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”

What David wants us to stop from doing is pursuing things that are out of our control.

Look at the rest of the sentence, “I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.”

The word, the ESV translates as “marvelous” can also be translated as “to be extraordinary, to be beyond one’s power to do, to do wonderful acts.”

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words To Be Marvelous

The verb is found for the first time in Gen. 18:14: “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?”

Pala˒ is used primarily with God as its subject, expressing actions that are beyond the bounds of human powers or expectations.

Here’s what David is saying, “You are God and I am not. Therefore, I’m going to relinquish control of that which I cannot control nor understand.”

God’s timing

Why is this happening to me right now?

Change people’s heart (only God can do that)

Give more example of things/areas we want to control that lead to anxiety

Thankfully there is a way out of it. The Bible describes David as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14). He wasn’t perfect, but he processed life in a way that was in tune with God’s heart despite all the turmoil and pressure he faced in his life.

He learned to process life in the context of his relationship with God which lead him to live life with a resting heart.

A resting heart

Psalm 131:2 “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.”

This is a powerful picture of someone who is experiencing peace that surpasses all understanding. This is a complete opposite picture of someone with a restless heart.

He hears the voice of Good Shepherd saying, “Peace, be still!”

David Powlison, “To quiet your soul means to silence the noise and tumult. “Sssshhh” to your desires, fears, opinions, anxieties, agendas, and irritabilities.”

How do you go from a restless heart to a resting heart?

We experience a resting heart by experiencing the love of Jesus Christ through the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. It’s all about a relationship!

Last year in May I attended a pastor’s conference where I heard a hymn titled, “Be still my soul.”

At this point in my life, my wife Sarah and I had made a major decision that would affect our family and finances in a major way. I was already dealing with crippling anxiety.

The hymn was written by Katarina von Schlege. She writes it in order to calm and quite her soul. She personalizes Psalm 131:2, perhaps written in the context of some great loss.

Be still my soul the Lord is on thy side Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain Leave to thy God to order and provide In every change He faithful will remain

Be still my soul thy best, thy heavenly friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Tears streaming down my face as I was reminded that God is in control. He will provide, he has a plan.

Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake To guide the future as He has the past Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake All now mysterious shall be bright at last

Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below

We need to be reminded to be still in order to be reminded that you are not alone through the storm you are going through. Christ rules the storms. You can trust him.

Be still, my soul; when dearest friends depart and all is darkened in the vale of tears, then you will better know his love, his heart, who comes to soothe your sorrows and your fears. Be still, my soul; your Jesus can repay from his own fullness all he takes away.

Loss is some of the hardest things one will ever face thing to face.

A loved one dies and will never again her his/her voice.

A job where you poured your talent and energy.

Health loss.

A failed marriage

Jesus gives you himself to calm your soul. The powerful presence of the Holy Spirit brings peace beyond understanding.

Notice the analogy David uses to describe this reality: I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.”

He contrasts a nursing child vs a weaned child.

When a baby is hungry he gets agitated and squirms because he needs and wants something: his mother’s milk.

David Powlison’s translation of Psalm 131, “Self, my heart is proud (I’m absorbed in myself), and my eyes are haughty (I look down on other people), and I chase after things too great and too difficult for me. So of course I’m noisy and restless inside; it comes naturally, like a hungry infant fussing on his mother’s lap, like a hungry infant, I’m restless with my demands and worries. I scatter my hopes onto anything and everybody all the time.” (Pawlison, Seeing with New Eyes, 78)

A infant demands to get something from his mom. A weaned child, is simply content to be with his mother. He is content with her presence.

That’s what happens when we are in the presence of Jesus: peace and contentment. Ask a three-year old what his thoughts are about the war in Ukraine, rising food prices or the pandemic? He does’t worry about those things because he is secure under the care of his mom/dad.

What emotions are you experiencing right now? What noise is inside your restless heart? Fear, anxiety, anger, depression, jealousy?

A personal invitation

This psalm portrays the longest journey you will ever take: 18” which is the distance from the head to the heart.”

The gospel invitation is very simple: put your complete trust in God!

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

You are called by name

Hope in the Lord!.

Psalm 130:7-8 “7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

Put your hope in the Lord now and everyday. The Gospel takes us on a daily journey where we go from a restless heart to a resting heart.

Gospel Path

Left: DESPAIR. “I don’t have power to control.” Leads to resignation

Right: DEMAND. “I will control the situation” Leads to restless heart

Gospel path: DEPENDENCY. “God is in control.” Leads to a resting Heart

Matthew 11:28-29 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

God has given us the wonderful gift of His Word and prayer to spend time with him in prayer in order to experience his presence.

I’ll close with this exercise.

Explain the circles.

Things I can control. Things I’m responsible for

Things out of my control. Things God is responsible for.

Things I’m responsible for:

A family member who far away from God: pray

I’m afraid I will get cancer: exercise, eat healthy, annual physical

Mental health (i.e. anxiety): exercise, sleep, eat healthy, spend time in prayer & the Word, talk to a counselor, go see a doctor.

I cannot control what other people think or say about me I can only control how I react to their comments.

What I put in my mind

The words that come out of my mouth

My actions

My attitude

Things out of my control:

Only God can touch and transform his heart.

Life and death are in his hands.

My body can have an anxiety attack seemingly out of nowhere.

The weather

The world economy

The war in Ukraine

The past

Take these two circles: Make a commitment to do the things that you are responsible for. Trust God with the things that are out of your control.