Like A Weaned Child
- Ranjith Charly
- Nov 26, 2024
- 2 min read
Background
Childlikeness
Christ leads us in triumphal procession, always and everywhere- 2 Corinthians 2:14
Psalm 131 is a psalm of triumph. Triumph in God’s eyes looks very different to what man considers triumph.
Three aspects that need a faith based response:
Practice humility
Learn to be content
Live in hope
Practice humility : | Psalm 131:1a “My heart is not proud, Lord” Acknowledge and repent of pride in self- Proverbs 16:5; 18:12 Psalm 131:1b “my eyes are not haughty” Acknowledge and repent of pride in relation to others (comparison with others) - Proverbs 30:13 Psalm 131:1c “I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.”
Acknowledge and repent of pride in relation to God (attitude of independence, head knowledge without heart transformation) – you do not need to know everything about everything or have an opinion on everything. To concern or occupy oneself is the Hebrew word for “walk”. David is saying “I quit playing God” “Some things I do not know, and I am at peace with that.” Deuteronomy 29:29; Job 42:3 |
Learn to be content : | Psalm 131:2 “But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.” When we honestly address the three areas of pride as in verse 1, we experience what it means to be still before God. (Psalm 46:10). David was honest in confessing his pride, he embraced humility and experienced the preciousness of stillness that only God can provide. To quiet one’s soul speaks of rest. Jesus offers us that rest in Matthew 11:28-30. The stillness and quietness of one’s soul is likened to a baby that has been weaned off its mother’s milk. A weaned child is at rest. The mother’s presence is more precious than what the mother can give. A weaned child speaks of maturing in one’s faith. It is important to recognize areas where we are like a weaning child (kicking, screaming, throwing a fit) because we did not get what we want in life or have our own way. Weaning is built into God’s creation, and it gives a child its first experience of loss. We learn two important truths from this process
Jesus calls us to be childlike in our faith, to turn from childishness- Matthew 18:3-4; 1 Corinthians 14:20. The alternative is that the wicked are never at peace and rest- Isaiah 57:20-21. We can choose. |
Live in hope : | Psalm 131:3 “O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.” In Christ, we have a living hope from ‘this time forth’ (present) and ‘forevermore’ (eternity)- Psalm 121:8; 125:2; 130:7 |
