“Something entirely unsuspected”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Thursday, October 6, 2022

Psalm 131 (Forward, p. 69) CEV p. 637

Many males, especially those from certain ethnic or national backgrounds, pride themselves in being self-reliant, independent and quite able to make plans and accomplish all that they intend to do—all without any help from others, thank you very much. Furthermore, all this is seen as quite natural and ordinary, and is praised and lauded, not only by themselves but by numerous others as well.

It was thus with more than a wee bit of shock that I read the opening verse of Psalm 131 this morning. In the Contemporary English Version it reads as follows:

“I am not conceited, Lord, and I don’t waste time on impossible schemes.”

The reading according to the Good News Bible added to my surprise, shock and dismay:

“Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me.”

And in the Authorized Version, the King James Bible, it is even more pointed:

“Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”

Somehow, I had never connected conceit or arrogance or pride with taking the initiative to plan ahead, whether with impossible schemes, great matters, difficult tasks or not. I had never connected any of this with having a haughty heart or with eyes dwelling on things too high for them.

But I guess that the underlying assumption is quite true, namely that we exalt ourselves to the point of thinking that we can do it all, without thinking of asking anyone else—or God, for that matter—for help or advice, we really are putting ourselves up on a pedestal, an ill-deserved one at that.

Now, to me, that doesn’t mean that we should never attempt great or seemingly ‘impossible’ things or tasks, or that we shouldn’t have lofty plans or ambitions. No, it is simply that we need to temper this impulse a bit, and to ask for help more readily.

However, there is one other thing to note here, which is picked up on in the next verse. The CEV puts it as follows: “But I have learned to feel safe and satisfied, just like a young child on its mother’s lap.” Or, as the Good News Bible says, “Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me.” Or, as the KJV states, “Surely, I have behaved myself and quieted myself…”

Sadly, unfortunately, when we strive and exert ourselves in weighty and difficult matters or tasks and reach far beyond our normal or expected knowledge and capabilities, we can become stressed and driven and obsessive, none of which is exactly good for our health or our souls. So, our psalmist is suggesting something different, to simply trust in God in all this, and allow God to give us the contentment, the peace, the quietness of soul, the inner satisfaction that we so desperately need—and yes, all the more so, when we are engaged in such pursuits. So, maybe this is a call, a prescription, to just pause, take it easy, and relax from time to time when involved in such things, to spend time doing nothing, spend time with others, and of course, spend time with God. Amen.

Forward notes: “O Lord, I am not proud; I have no haughty looks. I do not occupy myself with great matters or with things that are too hard for me” (verses 1-2).

“For the past several years I’ve researched my and my wife’s family histories, discovering and documenting lives, relationships, high points of success, and very low points of slavery, poverty, and medical distress. Common threads weaving through these African American experiences are humility, hard work, interdependence of family and neighbors, and the search for a safer, more rewarding life for children and grandchildren.

“There doesn’t seem to have been the space, most times, to occupy themselves with ‘great matters’ though things that were hard seemed to have been the regular pattern of many lives. What becomes clearer and clearer to me as I research these lives is that the Lord walks with usthrough very difficult times with seemingly no end to the troubles we’re facing.

“Jesus makes the point of eating with sinners because we’re all sinners. No need for pride or haughty looks; just faith in our loving Lord.”

Moving Forward: “What are the patterns of faith and life in your family history? Do some research or talk to your elders to learn more.”