Psalms 131 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

  • Psalms 131:1 open_in_new

    Psalms 131:1 «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.

    Ver. 1. 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).

    Terret ambustus Phaeton avaras

    Spes; et exemplum grave praebet ales

    Pegasus, terrenum equitem gravatus

    Bellerophontem.

  • Psalms 131:2 open_in_new

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

    Ver. 2. Surely I have behaved] Heb. if I have not, &c., 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.