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.