Psalm 131: Like a child well-fed

Psalm 131

A song of ascents, by David.

O Lord, my heart is not proud,

nor do I have a haughty look. 

I do not have great aspirations,

or seek to possess a title higher than I really am. 

Indeed, I am like one who shuts his mouth,  

like a young child, again nursed and carried by its mother;  

I am content like the young child well-fed.

O Israel, hope in the Lord, always

now and forevermore!

I love this Psalm. The mother and child aspect of it is so simply and beautifully put. I read it last night before sleep and decided to leave off reading anything else. I just wanted to dwell on this short psalm. This morning as I read it again, I am encouraged. Instead of writing out my thoughts I did some research on the words and just paraphrased some parts in the psalm itself to highlight the things that encourage me today. Try reading it in a few translations. My paraphrases are in italics above. 

Particularly, I like the reason that the Psalmist shuts his mouth... not because he is afraid, or humbled by conviction, or broken, but because he has been well-fed and cared for. The language also suggests that this good care has been repeated by God and the psalmist rests in God's predictability - his faithful care. 

ps. I love this site for online Bible study: http://net.bible.org/#!bible/Psalms+131