A Song of Ascents. Of David.

131 O 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.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 131 ESV)

This is the twelfth song of ascent and God uses the number 12 throughout Scripture to denote his government and the foundations of his government. For example, verse 12 of Revelation 21 says, “And having a wall great and high, and having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.” Notice, first, that this is verse 12. Second, observe that the number 12 is mentioned 3 times. Third, we see that this verse speaks of New Jerusalem, the seat of God’s eternal government over man, and, fourth, that it tells us that the city possesses 12 gates. A gate in Scripture speaks of the place of judgment and rule in a society, its government.

“But,” you may say, “Psalm 131 does not speak of foundations at all. What are you talking about?” Good question.

Psalm 131 deals with the prerequisite step each person must take before he can become part of the governmental foundation of God’s kingdom. This is the step of resting from our own labors and repenting of the pride those labors brought us. By this time all of us ought to have quit thinking about the “great” effect that our “ministry” is going to have on the world for the LORD’s benefit.

As I take this twelfth step I will examine my heart and repent until I too can affirm that my heart is not lifted up. I will agree with my maker that without him I can do no good thing. I cannot say the right words and I cannot write any song, poem, or teaching that can bring salvation to any person. Recently I have become wont to say, “There’s no salvation in music.” Over the past fifteen years I wrote about two hundred songs in the hope that a soul might be positively affected for the sake of the LORD and righteousness’ sake, but I never saw it. I have been in “worship” meetings where the music seemed so “anointed,” but I don’t think I ever saw a heart changed by that music. But, I sure have seen a lot of proud musicians and worship leaders! Likewise, I have known proud teachers of God’s Word. And I myself have been proud of various “spiritual” things I did over the past thirty-five years… all for the “glory of God” of course!

But now I resolve to lift not my heart in pride and raise not my eyes too high. I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. I cannot yet understand them. I have calmed and quieted my soul (a little at least!), as a weaned child no longer cries for her Mother’s breast. My hope is in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Now, I will take this step, hoping that even yet I might qualify for the crown of life and be deemed worthy to become part of that great city, New Jerusalem.