The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 131:1-2,
"My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content."
Here are the first two verses of this short three verse psalm. They contain a thought that is, frankly, somewhat foreign to me. David says here, at least for the time he penned it, that he is content to not have to know everything. "I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me." As a result of that he finds himself calmed, quieted and just as contented as a "weaned child" with its mother.
I have to admit, this isn't a disposition I very often find myself in. I always feel the impulse to understand a matter and often feel a bit of frustration if I don't. As an example, to know what is going on in some political event and why, or to wrestle with something I have tripped over in the Scriptures-- to understand how it fits into the things "I already know" (!), moods and shifting events in our culture, etc.
In Proverbs 25:27 we read, "It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep." I'm not quite sure I understand this verse completely, but it seems to be telling me there is a point at which I transgress wisdom in the hot pursuit of "knowing it all" and, thereby, falling into an arrogance that David avoided in Psalm 131.
I do recognize that studying the word of God is a responsibility for all of us. Paul tells us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Through this I assume wisdom resides somewhere between Proverbs 25:27 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 resulting in an enviable position that David had found.
Just thinking out loud here...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content."
Here are the first two verses of this short three verse psalm. They contain a thought that is, frankly, somewhat foreign to me. David says here, at least for the time he penned it, that he is content to not have to know everything. "I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me." As a result of that he finds himself calmed, quieted and just as contented as a "weaned child" with its mother.
I have to admit, this isn't a disposition I very often find myself in. I always feel the impulse to understand a matter and often feel a bit of frustration if I don't. As an example, to know what is going on in some political event and why, or to wrestle with something I have tripped over in the Scriptures-- to understand how it fits into the things "I already know" (!), moods and shifting events in our culture, etc.
In Proverbs 25:27 we read, "It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep." I'm not quite sure I understand this verse completely, but it seems to be telling me there is a point at which I transgress wisdom in the hot pursuit of "knowing it all" and, thereby, falling into an arrogance that David avoided in Psalm 131.
I do recognize that studying the word of God is a responsibility for all of us. Paul tells us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Through this I assume wisdom resides somewhere between Proverbs 25:27 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 resulting in an enviable position that David had found.
Just thinking out loud here...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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