Scripture
131
Vs 1 … I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.
vs 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul
Vs 3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.
The Lord Has Chosen Zion
132
Vs 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place:
vs 14 “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
vs 15 I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.
vs 16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy.
Observation
The psalmist has reached a place of inner peace and calm.
Whatever was creating anxiousness, worry, and strife previously is no longer doing so.
How did this happen?
It was not by “fixing” the circumstances that were creating the turmoil.
It was by changing his focus.
The psalmist no longer “occupies himself with things too great for me”.
But he does not simply become aloof or fill his mind with nonsense to distract himself.
His soul is “calmed and quieted” now because his “hope is in the LORD”.
And this is not a temporary decision to have settle himself for the moment.
No! Now his hope is “from this time and forevermore”!
Most importantly, the psalmists hope is in who the LORD is and the work that the LORD has done!
The “LORD has chosen”!
Application
It seems a constant and steady pattern of behavior is:
“If I can just get this “______” fixed, then everything will be Ok in my life or world.
Of course there’s a glaring problem with this type of thinking!
I am a sinful person living in a broken, sinful world.
As soon as what I want resolved is “settled”, another “problem” is right around the corner.
I will always “occupy myself with things too great” until I do one thing …
“Hope in the LORD”!
My inner self will never be “quieted” … my soul will never be “calmed” … Until …
I hope in the LORD!
And my hope is in Who He is and WHAT He has done!
HE has chosen me! … HE desires me!
He blesses me … He satisfies me …
He clothes me … with salvation!
And what is my response? … What is my “application”!
I “shout for joy”!!
My response is … WORSHIP!!
Prayer
Thank you, God, that you have chosen
You have blessed me and dwelled in me
You have clothed me is salvation
Help me to not be occupied by smaller things that I make into greater things
Help me hope in you
Calm my soul … Quiet my soul
In Jesus name
Amen