Psalms — Chapter 131

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1LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

2Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

3Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

1Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me.

2Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child with his mother, Like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3O Israel, hope in Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore. Psalm 132 A Song of Ascents.

1A song of ascents, by David. O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor do I have a haughty look. I do not have great aspirations, or concern myself with things that are beyond me.

2Indeed, I have calmed and quieted myself like a weaned child with its mother; I am content like a young child.

3O Israel, hope in the Lord now and forevermore!

1Yahweh, my heart isn’t haughty, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me.

2Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3Israel, hope in Yahweh, from this time forward and forever more.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A Song of Ascents of David — the shortest Song of Ascents: David professes childlike humility and quieted contentment before God, like a weaned child with its mother; 'Let Israel hope in the LORD.'

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Song of Ascents / Psalm of Trust Attributed Author: David (superscription: "A Song of degrees of David") Key Themes: Humility before God, contentment like a weaned child, quieting the soul, not striving beyond one's place, childlike trust
Historical Context: Psalm 131 is one of the shortest and most tender psalms — only three verses. David, the king of Israel, describes himself as a weaned child on its mother's lap. The weaned child (typically 2-3 years old in ancient Israel) no longer nurses anxiously but rests contentedly with the mother — needing nothing but presence. This is extraordinary from a warrior king: he has deliberately set aside ambition, pride, and striving for things "too high" for him. Spurgeon called this psalm "one of the shortest to read but one of the longest to learn." It is the psalm of spiritual maturity through chosen humility.
Structure:
  • Negation: What David Does NOT Do (v.1)
  • Positive Image: A Weaned Child (v.2)
  • Call to Israel: Hope (v.3)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Videos

The Bible Project — Psalms Overview

Reflection

  • 1. Choose humility (v.1). Humility is not weakness — it's the king of Israel refusing to overreach. Don't exercise yourself in matters too great for you. Not everything is your burden.
  • 2. Become a weaned child (v.2). Stop screaming for what you don't have. Learn contentment. The weaned child has nothing in hand but rests in the mother's arms — satisfied with PRESENCE alone. Can you be satisfied with God Himself without His gifts?
  • 3. This psalm is the antidote to ambition-anxiety. The constant striving for more, higher, greater — David renounces it. Rest. Be content. Not everything "high" is yours to reach for.
  • 4. Three verses. The greatest truths sometimes need the fewest words. Entire libraries on humility couldn't say it better.