Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
 I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.

-          A song of ascents

o   We know these were the 15 songs sang on the way to meet in the Lord’s house in Jerusalem

o   Israel had to travel up to Jerusalem three times per year to celebrate

§  Passover (saved by the blood of the lamb)

§  Pentecost (the law given 50-days after leaving Egypt; Holy Spirit poured out 50-days after Christ died and rose again – fulfilling the law)

§  Tabernacle  - temporary tents; God provided for the Jews for 40-years in the desert and He still provides for us today

-          Of David

o   David means “beloved of God”

o   These songs are for you and me too

§  You are beloved of God

§  He loves you!

-          My heart is not proud, Lord

o   This important because pride is a matter of the heart

o   Pride means you are proud of yourself and what you can do not what God did or does (it means your focus is on the wrong person)

§  You need to change your focus from yourself to God

§  God hates pride

§  Pride always comes before a fall

o   Here the Psalmist declares his heart is not proud (not self-centered)

§  This means his heart is right – it is God centered

§  Serving others not being served!

§  Bestowing honor and praise on others not lavishing in it yourself

§  Building up others not yourself (pour yourself out; Outbless others today)

-          My eyes are not haughty

o   The eyes are the window into your soul

o   Much can be learned or understood when you look into someone’s eyes

o   Haughty means “high eyes” or “lifted up eyes” – it is the idea that someone looks down upon others as if less worthy or intelligent or valuable.

o   It is the ultimate disdain of others or God as it assumes the highest position in heaven in hearth (instead of God)

o   God hates pride and prideful eyes seem to be the pinnacle of such arrogance

o   The psalmist says his eyes are not haughty

o   This mans his eyes are the opposite of haughty

o   This means he does not look down upon others but looks up

§  Meaning he holds other in higher esteem than himself

§  This virtue grows from the heart of humility & gratitude before God & man

§  It is the idea that there is nothing in me of value except God’s spirit & His word by grace

2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.

-          But (this word means in contrast or instead)

-          I have calmed and quieted myself

o   This is what we all need to do

o   Calm and quiet yourself!  Calm down and don’t thinks so highly of yourself.

§  Quiet yourself means stop speaking boastful things about yourself

§  This is the opposite of what prideful people do

Intro to Outbless Weekly

Thanks for listening to Outbless.com