Charles Spurgeon said of our Psalm today it is “one of the shortest to read and hardest to learn.” It is among a group of psalms that are called the “songs of ascent.” These psalms, Psalm 120-134, are mostly short with the exception of Psalm 132. Pilgrims would come to Jerusalem three times each year to worship. The first two are in the spring. They are Passover and Shavuot. The third is in the Fall and is called Sukkot. As they traveled, usually in groups, they would sing these little songs much like we Christians sing songs in a Sunday school class, in a youth meeting, or even singing with our children while we are driving a car.

David is identified as the writer of this little song. No doubt it was a private song. Many commentators think it was a time when David was recounting his life and thanking God for his goodness, even through all the trials he had to endure. The psalm had been placed in the private items of David and three hundred years after his death another king was shown this song. His name was Hezekiah and it was added to the hymn book of Israel, the Psalms.

Three short verses, but my what a punch they pack for us. Let me give you three thoughts from the passage.

  1. David’s Submission. V.1. David declares his heart to not be haughty, to be lifted with pride. He declares his eyes to not be lofty. He doesn’t think more highly of himself than he should. His humility is easily on display. Being humble doesn’t mean you declare you have no gifts or talents when you and everyone else knows you do. Each of you reading this blog has abilities that should be used for God in his service. David knew he could do things. He had killed a lion, a bear, a giant, led successful military tasks, been a faithful friend, and served loyally in Saul’s court whether as a musician or a soldier. Yet, we find him humble when talking to God. We find him not thinking he’s the smartest guy in the room. He knows there are things he doesn’t understand. Things that only God knows. To be humble means we don’t have to have the glory. We should have a heart that is happy when others succeed and are praised when we aren’t.
  2. David’s Simplicity. V.2. After telling God that somethings are too high for me to understand, he compares himself to a little baby that has been feeding at his mother’s breast and now is being weaned. There is security for a child that is getting nourishment from his mother. As the weaning starts that security is shaken. But the weaning must take place for growth. I think David is acknowledging this as he says, “my soul is even as a weaned child.” If you continue to think about this picture, what happens when a weaned child is hurt or afraid? The little man runs back to his mother and still desires to get close to his mother’s breast. Even though the feeding has stopped the feeling of safety hasn’t. As more time passes and the child is grown, matured, he comes back getting close to mother with a hug or squeeze because he loves her. David is telling God thank you for his weaning for also he still desires that same closeness because he loves the Lord.
  3. David Sighs. v.3. His desire for his nation is that they “hope in the Lord.” The word for “hope” means to “wait expectantly.” John Phillips (I think) when speaking about this waiting said it was “to wait expectantly because the one you are waiting for is trustworthy.” If you have any age on you at all you know there are people in whom you have trusted and they failed you. Sometimes parents fail. Sometimes employers fail. Yes, sometimes even preachers fail. Remember this, Jesus never fails. He is completely trustworthy. He has never done a single one of us wrong. David closes his little song of thanks by saying he desires for Israel to have this hope “from henceforth and forever.” May this be our heartbeat as well. We will patiently wait on the one who is completely trustworthy.

Working to stay humble and close to the Lord is often hard. At the beginning of this article I referenced Hezekiah. This king of Judah had a great victory over the greatest military leader of the Assyrians. His name was Sennacherib. The biblical story is told in II Kings 18-19. Judah is saved by the powerful hand of God. It was all God and nothing Hezekiah contributed for this victory. However, within a few years, Judah had forgotten their “hope” was in the Lord. It is easy for us to forget also. This Thanksgiving let’s all push the reset button, remembering to be humble, desiring the things of the Lord and to wait for the Lord to give us victory and success in our struggles.