I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul
Elizabeth Moore
I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul: Psalm 131
A song of Ascents of David
"O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore."
And this is where I am--where God and I have met.
In awe of his grace and glory, but quite unable to understand it.
I love how the beginning of this psalm describes the humility of the faithful man, whose eyes are raised just enough to worship but not high enough to suggest a creation should receive the Creator's glory. The faithful man has a humble, and accurate view of himself that comes from a glorified, and accurate view of God.
The faithful man does not attempt to understand things too marvelous or too great for him; he understands somethings are beyond human power or comprehension. He understands he cannot understand the ways of God, because if he could then he would cease to be a worshiper and God would cease to be God.
As a weaned child is content to simply have his mother's presence, the faithful man contentedly rests, calmed and quieted, in the Presence of God.
For in the Lord's presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).
His presence arouses thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2) and singing (Psalm 100:2).
Even when there are many things the faithful servant would like God to explain, God's presence is enough.