Click here to read PSALM 131 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 131 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Whereas Psalm 119 showed that God would raise the Messiah from the dead to eternal life, Psalm 131 is the twelfth of 15 “songs of the degrees” (Psalms 120-134) regarding God keeping Hezekiah alive (see the notes on Psalm 120 for more details).
Psalm 131, written by David, shows that the Messiah is peaceful and blessed, as a child weaned from its mother.
Structure
(God’s blessing and peace through the Messiah)
(Verse 1) The Messiah is not haughty or high-minded
(Verse 2) The Messiah is peaceful and quiet, as a child weaned from his mother
(Verse 2) His soul is as a weaned child
(Verse 3) Israel hopes in the Lord forever (His promise of the Messiah)
Key Scriptures
Verse 1—“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.” The Messiah was not haughty or trying to do things on his own. This is the Messiah’s humble heart toward the Father. Moses was “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3).
Jesus Christ was a prophet like unto Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18), and Jesus was “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Jesus Christ always went to his Father for counsel and advice on what to do. Jesus said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30).
Verse 2—“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.” Jesus Christ was quiet, meek, and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). Weaned children were no longer sucking at their mother’s breast (Isaiah 11:8 shows them as being different).
When a child was weaned, he was ready to be trained in God’s Word, as was Samuel (I Samuel 1:23,24). Isaiah 28:9,10 explains this: “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” This was the patient, methodical process of teaching the scriptures to a young, weaned child. This is how Jesus Christ would have learned from his parents and teachers.
Verse 3—“Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever.” The Messiah, Jesus Christ, was Israel’s great hope. Whosover calls on the Lord is saved (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13).
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader.
The Background, Structure, and Key Scriptures for all 150 Psalms are available from Amazon in a book The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
