Psalm 131

With this Pilgrim Song the pilgrim has arrived at the temple, or at least at the city gates.  He is able to rest, no longer concerned about the hills before him.  It pictures for today's pilgrim his rest  when he has grown in his knowledge of God.  Let us consider this short song beginning with the last verse and moving forward.

A.            Rest  is promised now and forevermore, v3.

Rest is not only physical but a spiritual or faith term.  Heaven is a place for rest from one's labors (Rev. 6:11; 14:13).  But rest can also be the experience of the pilgrim while living in this world (Heb. 3:7-4:13).  This faith-rest is the opposite of hardness of heart (3:7-9), disobedience (3:18) and unbelief (3:19).  It is not so much the cessation of labor as it is the relaxing of the cords of affliction now so tightly drawn, strained and stretched to the uttermost.  Note that the promise is for now and forevermore.  Rest is not only the promise of heaven; it is the goal of the pilgrim in this life as well.

B.            Rest is illustrated by the weaned child, v2.

What a wonderful picture this is.  A child, from birth, is immediately, faithfully and perfectly cared for by his mother.  But now the time has come to mature, the first real time of sorrow for the child.  He now cries but must wait.  He must be disciplined, given meals at specified times.  He is no longer as close to his mother.  For some time it is a struggle but time brings relief.  So it has been with the pilgrim.  It has been a struggle, but a necessary struggle, that he might grow in the knowledge of God.  But now he has come to a milestone, to a conclusion.  As Spurgeon said, nothing but grace can make us quiet under affliction, irritations, disappointments.  But so for the pilgrim it has happened.

C.            Rest is indicated by the absence of self, v1.

It is important to note that this is a Psalm of the great King David.  Who was more involved in "great things" than the king?  And yet, this man after God's heart, who wrote so many songs reflecting his struggles with his enemies, has now come to rest in his God.  And how do we know this rest?  By David's...

Selfless heart (the wellspring of life).

Selfless eyes (which most easily betray arrogance).

Selfless vocation (all his great projects were nothing compared to knowing God).

Selfless faith (those things beyond his comprehension he could leave with God).

Come unto me all you that labor & I will give you rest. (Mt. 11:28f)