Temple Baptist Church - 6-15-2025
Psalm 131
Introduction:
A. Another of the Song of Degrees (Upward Psalms), songs that the Jews and Jewish Proselytes sang as they traveled to Jerusalem on one of the three Feast Days when all males had to appear before God in Jerusalem.
B. Worship is a heart thing, not a physical one. Many of God’s people never worship because they come to God’s house with wrong attitudes, sinful hearts, and an attitude of 'I’ll be glad when it's over' so “bless me if you can.”
Psalm 100 provides the order of worship: joy, gladness, singing, understanding, thanksgiving, and finally, praise.
C. Worship comes from the preparations of the heart! Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
D. This is one of the Davidic Psalms, a man after God’s own heart. David was a man of War but also a man of Worship. As I read this short Psalm, I see the simplicity of David’s heart of worship. This psalm is a personal testimony — David’s quiet confession of trust, humility, and contentment.
E. David wrote this Psalm about David. Short Psalms are powerful ones, quick to the point, and specific. A very personal look into the heart and soul of the greatest human king to ever sit on the throne of Israel!
1. Verse 1. A Humble Heart. Here we find David’s Humility. Humanism is the elevation of the “god of self.” King David, when he wrote this Psalm, was STILL the young shepherd boy at heart who wrote the 23rd Psalm while tending his “few sheep.”
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
a. In his youth, David did not think that he was anything special. “my heart is not haughty” David was content to be a shepherd! Haughty – lifted up, proud, raised up to great height. David speaks of mastering one’s spirit by training the eyes, capturing imaginations, and living a life that is pure before the Lord. While engaging in all these activities, give God the glory instead of being proud of oneself.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
b. David did not desire to be anything special. “nor mine eyes lofty” Nowhere in the history of King David did he ever seek self-elevation! From a shepherd boy to a warrior King, God called, protected, and elevated him. David was probably shocked when Samuel anointed him to be the next king instead of his older brothers. When we become somebody, God becomes nobody!
c. David did not desire to be in a position to make great decisions. “Neither do I exercise myself in great matters.” David was a simple man who did not desire the throne but rather was glad to be a servant of King Saul.
d. David knew his limitations. “or in things too high for me.” David did not know what he was capable of or what awaited him in the future, but God did! But God knew what he was capable of!
e. As a man after God’s own heart, David wanted what God wanted. As Joseph waited on God to place him in the position of second in command in Egypt so as to deliver Israel, David was content to wait on what God wanted him to do.
2. Verse 2. A Quiet Soul. Here we find David’s Tranquility.
a. David’s Peace was in God. “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself”
1) His tranquility was found in his choices. Life is full of choices, and we need to learn to make the right ones.
a) Good Behavior. “ I have behaved.” A clear conscience makes for a soft pillow! 1 Samuel 18:14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
b) Spiritual Control. “I have behaved and quieted myself” Tranquility is a state of mind, not circumstances. Acts 26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
2) The tranquility was found in his maturity. “as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”
a) A small child hangs on to his mother, seeking her milk. For nine months in the womb, a baby hears the beat of a mother’s heart and feels the warmth of her body. He or she needs to lie on the breast of the mother.
b) A weaned child still needs a mother, but now grows mentally as well as physically. The weaned child now needs and desires the meat of the Word of God. Spiritual maturity teaches the believer that he can trust the heavenly Father to protect and provide, to comfort and guide.
c) Carnal believers stay just that, but spiritual believers grow in faith and trust.
3. Verse 3. A Hopeful Faith. Here we find David’s Responsibility. “Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.”
a. David’s Responsibility to Solomon. In the last days of King David, he instructed Solomon to hope in the Lord.
1 Kings 2:1-4 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, (2) I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; (3) And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: (4) That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
b. David’s Responsibility to Israel. Notice the change from personal to national. David moves from personal testimony to national encouragement. As a man after God’s own heart, King David learned that his hope was in God. What David found that was good for him, he deemed good for the Nation, which he ruled. “Let Israel hope in the LORD” — not in kings, not in circumstances, but in Jehovah.
c. David’s Responsibility to Us. As we get older in the Lord, we want others to see Christ in us and learn to hope in Him as He holds our futures in His hand!
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
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