(A song of David for those journeying to worship)
1 Lord, my heart is meek before you. I don’t consider myself better than others. I’m content to not pursue matters that are over my head— such as your complex mysteries and wonders that I’m not yet ready to understand.
2 I am humbled and quieted in your presence. Like a contented child who rests on its mother’s lap, I’m your resting child and my soul is content in you.
3 O people of God, your time has come to quietly trust, waiting upon the Lord now and forever.
Psalm 131 The Passion Translation
Hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, blizzards, and presidential elections share things in common: they overwhelm, bring major noise fatigue, disorientation and despair, causing us to wonder if the storm will ever be over. In these days post-election and pre-inauguration (toss in, for good measure, a pandemic, social unrest, racial tensions, job losses – and the Holidays!), these timely, welcome words of lover/poet/warrior/King David land oh so gently on media-battered souls. His calling to mind the image of a child blissfully, drowsily snuggled in, in its mother’s tender embrace is possibly one of the most charming, heartwarming scenes imaginable. Can’t you just see those sleep-heavy eyelids partially closing then opening languorously again, eyes now unfocused, until, at last, surrendering to angelic, dreamless slumber? King David yanks us away, still swooning from all that adorableness, as he likens his own big, burly, macho self to that little child, seeking much-needed rest for his own battle-wearied soul right there, in the arms of God-of-the-Angel-Armies (as Peterson often calls him in The MESSAGE.) He obviously discovers there such an exquisite, profound quality of peace-filled renewal that he recommends it to the entire nation of Israel. Quiet trust. Waiting. My prayer for us is that we, too, would know respite from matters that are over our heads, including, complex mysteries and wonders, finding, in a brand new, all-over-again way, that He is really all the protective shelter and sure-footed, faithful guide we need, both today and for all eternity! Sweet dreams, y’all! PD
ps I’m reminded that, 1000 years after King David, another King spoke similarly. You can find his words recorded in Matthew 11:28-30 – in the version of your choice!:)
