A Quiet Soul

Psalm 131.
Only three verses, here they are in the NASB:
“ O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
Or in things too difficult for me.
Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.”


This is another song of ascents, typically a psalm to be repeated, perhaps spoken together as travelers would make their way “up” to Jerusalem, thus the term ascents. People literally ascended to Jerusalem, and they were on their way to worship. So they reminded themselves of preparatory elements like who God is, or how they as followers desired to be in relation to God.

Is this psalm, themes so relevant to us are present. A prideful heart, haughty eyes, trying to be “important”…all were struggles for the worshiper then, as now. But the psalmist camps on this idea of a quiet soul, and uses the imagery of a “weaned child” resting against his mother. We could stop and say that we see we need a quiet soul and be done. But when we can explore these metaphors, the psalms become even richer to read and dwell on.

As we understand this, a weaned child is one who is now old enough to take nourishment by other means than by nursing from his mother. Let’s back up for a moment. Prior to being weaned, a child instinctively (God-given) knows to get nourishment from his mother. Indeed, in those days, his very life may have depended on being able to do so. That it was instinctive implies that it was not a conscious decision or choice. Now that he is weaned, he literally no longer needs his mother for nourishment.

So why rest against her, if their nourishing bond is now broken? Because the child has learned, and understands that he trusts this woman, and finds great comfort in simply resting there. That’s why.

When we calm and quiet our soul, and truly put our trust in the Lord, we should do so consciously, on purpose, because we know that He alone is worthy of our trust and praise. I’ll speak for me here. I yearn for a heart that is empty of pride, for eyes that are not haughty, and to sincerely rest against our Lord.

My flesh battles against my spirit, and so the leaning on Him is not instinctive like the un-weaned child. Rather, I am presented with a place to rest, and whether or not I rest there is up to me. My spirit knows there is no better place! May we all hope in the Lord as we should.