Pilgrim Worship: Thursday Psalms: Calm Down!

Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!

How often have we said or heard the words "Calm down..."? We often say this to others in distress, especially children. If you're like me, you've heard these words from others more than a few times. Many times, especially during a panic attack or an urgent crisis, there are many things we can actually do which help us calm down.

King David even gives his own recommendation in the last part of verse 1. Don't dwell, don't keep thinking about things beyond your understanding, he suggests. Often this is good advice, and helps us to calm down.

But is there more in this psalm for us, something more than simply a command: "do this, don't do that"? I think so.

PSALM 131 A Song of Ascents. Of David.

¹O 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.

²But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

³O Israel, hope in the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore.

One image and one word attract my attention. Consider a weaned child with its mother, who we might picture curled up in his/her mother's lap. Such a child certainly knows his Mom, this person who has fed and cared for him/her, and she still does. He knows her by the sound of her voice, by the scent of her clothing and he loves her, even if he does not yet fully understand what love is. David is using this picture to describe himself, resting in the comfort and provision of his Lord. He is calmed and quieted in his soul. This is a picture of you and of me also. We too, are calmed and quieted by the Lord, knowing that He loves us, cares for us, and forgives all our sins. We trust in Him, because He loves and cares for us.

Of course, this leads us to verse 3, and God's delightful gift of hope. Knowing all of God's promises, which He has kept, gives us confidence that He will continue keeping His promises to you and to me. We hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore, not an unsure wishing, but a confident, trusting hope.

So, when things get rough and rugged in our lives, we can indeed CALM DOWN, because God continues to keep all His promises to love, care for and forgive you from this time forth and forevermore. Thanks be to God! Amen!