Bible Commentaries
Psalms 131

Verse 1

« A Song of degrees of David. » 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.

Lord, my heart is not haughty — Though anointed and appointed by thee to the kingdom; yet I have not ambitiously aspired unto it, by seeking Saul’s death, as his flatters persuaded him; nor do I now, being possessed of it, proudly domineer (as is the manner of most potentates) and tyrannize over my poor subjects; but with all modesty and humility (not minding high things) I do condescend to them of low estate, Romans 12:16 . Now, in alto positum non altum sapere, difficile est, et omnino inusitatum; sed quanto inusitatius, tanto gloriosius (Bucholc.). It is both hard and happy not to be puffed up with prosperity and preferment. Vespasian is said to have been the only one that was made better by being made emperor.

Nor mine eyes lofty — Pride sitteth and shows itself in the eyes as soon as in any part. Ut speculum oculus est artis, ita oculus est naturae speculum.

Neither do I exercise myself in great matters — Heb. I walk not; maneo intra metas, I keep within my circle, within the compass of my calling; not troubling myself and others by my ambitious projects and practices, as Cleon did, Alcibiades, Caesar Borgia, and others, ambitionists.

Or in things too high for me — Heb. wonderful; high and hidden things, that pass my apprehension, and which it behoveth me, mirari potius quam rimari, to admire rather than to pry into. Arcana Dei sunt Area Dei. The Bethshemites paid dear for peeping into the ark. Phaeton is feigned by the poets to have perished by taking upon him to rule the chariot of the sun; and Bellerophon, by seeking to fly up to heaven upon his Pegasus, to see what Jupiter did there (Horat. lib. 4, Obadiah 1:11 ).

Spes; et exemplum grave praebet ales

Pegasus, terrenum equitem gravatus

Bellerophontem.

Verse 2

Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul [is] even as a weaned child.

Surely I have behaved — Heb. if I have not, …, a deep asseveration, such as hath the force of an oath, Si non composui et sedavi.

And quieted myself — Heb. stilled or made silent my soul; chiding it when distempered or noiseful, as the mother doth her weanling.

As a child that is weaned of his mother — Who neither thinketh great things of himself nor seeketh great things for himself; but is lowly and fellowly, Matthew 18:1 , innocent and unaware, taking what his mother giveth him, and resting in her love.

My soul is even as a weaned child — Who will not be drawn to suck again, though never so fair and full strutting a breast. So not David, the world’s dugs.

Verse 3

Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

Let Israel hope — See Psalms 130:7 .