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It is our privilege
to pray for
Graduate School professors
David Woodall, Julius Wong
Loi Sing, William Thrasher,
and Walter McCord. We
express our appreciation for
these men dedicated to following
and sharing Christ's
teachings.
TODAY IN THE WORDBritish poet Christina Rossetti once prayed for humility: “Eternal God, let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; that as he from his loftiness stooped to the death of the cross, so we in our lowliness may humble ourselves, believing, obeying, living and dying, for his name's sake.”
Humility imitates Christ and trusts in the Father absolutely. When Jesus during Passion Week arrived at the climax of His mission of redemption, He trusted absolutely in the sovereign plan of His Father. He knew that God was in total control and that nothing could happen that was outside of His will, no matter how bad things got. That's the kind of humble faith found in today's reading—the faith of a child in his mother's arms.
This short psalm makes its main point through contrast, comparing what the worshiper is not with what he is. What he is not is proud and haughty (v. 1). His “eyes” don't look down on others. He doesn't concern himself “with great matters,” meaning he doesn't rely on his own strength or understanding (cf. Prov. 3:5-6), and he doesn't seek his own glory. He knows his proper place before the God of the universe—like a child in his mother's arms, quiet, trusting, and peaceful (v. 2). Realistically, his soul needs comforting just as children sometimes need cuddling and soothing.
This is how to walk in humility and trust
(v. 3). These themes take on a special poignancy
in light of the psalm's historical
status. The header, “A song of ascents,”
meant it was sung as part of national worship,
while ascending the uphill road toward
Jerusalem (Zion) or the stairs to the
temple. Yet, although probably David had
written this in Israel's golden age, it was
more widely used after the conquered and
scattered people had returned from the
Exile. Solomon's temple no longer even
existed. Despite all they had endured,
the people still worshiped in humility
and trust.
TODAY ALONG THE WAYPsalm 131 pictures a faithful heart as a child snuggled up against a parent. What a privilege to know that even if our own parents failed us, God offers us a place of quiet security in the warmth of His love. If this image of God is difficult for you, either because you view Him as harsh or because your examples of parenting have been flawed, pray today that God will embrace you with His comfort. You might consider more study on God as our Father (the December 2007 Today in the Word issue on this topic is available online).
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