Psalm 131:3

Psalm 131:3

Put your hope in the Lord

This Psalm ends with an unexpected plea; the author cries out to his compatriots and implores them to be like him! He sees the pride that the nation has in its identity. He sees the arrogance that has been born in them as they have prevailed over their enemies. He sees the self-importance arising from their national success in building, farming and their generic prosperity. Instead of attributing the glory to the Lord God, they have taken it for themselves and revelled in their human wisdom and abilities. Such an attitude still prevails amongst many Jews today who are so blessed and so enriched, and who defy all the odds as they pursue and protect their national identity but who fail to give the glory to the Lord. 

This is a lesson to us all, how do we view our achievements? How do we react when things go well and our goals are met, and our lives are blessed? Do we give credit to the Lord, or do we prefer to take it for ourselves? The psalmist prefers for us to be like toddlers walking at their mother’s side and to humbly recognise that our power, our prosperity and our status is in God’s hands and we are nothing without Him. These three simple verses are calling us to walk with our Father, to stay close to Him, to cease our striving and to learn to rest under His care and provision. In that way we have no fear about the future, no need to be ruthless go-getters, no anxiety about our situation, everything is in God’s hands. 

·      “Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” 

·      “Church, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” 

·      “All those who believe, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” 

 

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