“Like a Weaned Child” (Ps 131)

A Song of Ascents. Of David. O Jehovah, my heart is not proud, nor have my eyes been lofty; nor have I walked in great things, nor in things too wondrous for me. Surely I have set myself and have quieted my soul, like one weaned by its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. Let Israel hope in Jehovah, from now and till forever. (vs1-3)

Being weaned by the Lord and made submissive to Him is hard.  Like infants, we scream and protest, until we’re submitted.

I remember my little sister, when she went from the breast to the bottle, refused to drink all morning, all day, and well into the night.  She cried and screamed angrily and hungrily, but then suddenly, she took the bottle, her tears were comforted, and her belly was fed. It is the same with us. We kick and scream, we cry “unfair”, and we do all that we can our own way, until finally, we SUBMIT to God as God.

He rules by right and by power. He forces our submission by not giving us what we want, but by giving us PAIN, until we do it His way.  “For Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’ But you would not… Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you, and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you, for the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him (Is 30:15-18). Then, the soul says, “I will obey. I will do what He says, and it will be better for me.” And, when this submission takes place, then we enjoy the peace and power of God, even the blessedness of His way.

Blessed are the meek, and blessed are you and I, if we’re bowed down to Christ, submitted to Him, and getting grace to obey. Blessed are you when you bow to salvation by grace, instead of merit, by God’s Son, instead of yourself (Rom 4:5). Blessed are you to bow to His way of living. We are to love our enemies, do good to them who curse us, and minister the gospel in love. It is not, “My will”, but “Thy will be done” (Luke 22:41-42).

Everyone who bows enjoys the pleasures of obedience, the joy and confidence of the gospel, and the assurance of God’s presence (Is 32:9-19).  We are rewarded in obedience, which we couldn’t be in our sin, so it is better that we’ve learned meekness and submission. He says, “O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever” (Ps 131:3).  We wait on God, instead of forcing our own hand. We go where He says, and we do what He says, no matter the war within, because He will help and it is BEST.  God blesses obedience, and blessed are you to have it, to willingly follow Christ.

Where do you stand?  In rebellion?  Do you think that God will change, and you will win (Heb 12:6)? Will He bow to you? No, the only thing that rebellion can do is prove that we don’t know Him and bring misery upon us. We must be changed, and you must become God’s servant, willingly.  

Look at the pain coming upon you and the pain that you’ve already experienced, and turn to God in repentance and faith.  Say, “Lord, help me obey, at all cost, as the most important thing in my life.  Take me, right where I am, and help me. I want Your will.” And, He will give it to you.  He says, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matt 7:8)!  What words!  He’ll hear your cry, answer you, and peacefulness and obedience will result. Be as a weaned child, satisfied with the nourishment, which is God’s will, and strength.