Dear Brethren,

“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”
Psalm 131:1.

In the Church prayer meeting, we have just completed the study of Psalm 120 to Psalm 134. These 15 Psalms are entitled “A Song of Degrees” which the Jewish pilgrims in ascending to Jerusalem for worship will sing unto the Lord. In my sharing of Psalm 131, I was deeply rebuked by the Lord to walk in the way of the Lord in lowliness and humility. Though there are only 3 verses in Psalm 131, it will take us a life-time to learn its spiritual lesson and probably the hardest to learn too.

Let me share to you some key lessons to learn in Psalm 131:1. I hope through this sharing we will realize how we ought to walk in true humility before the Lord. This will surely make us to be prayerful to depend on the Lord every moment. May the lesson on humility also spur us with stronger desire to come to Church prayer meeting to seek God for His help and guidance in everything we do.

  • The Psalmist addressed his prayer to the “Lord.” This is the first word of the Psalm. It is a very personal expression between him and his Lord. He opened his heart to the Lord to utter this lesson that he has learnt. It was addressed to the Lord knowing he cannot pretend or put a show to his Lord and his God who knows everything about him.
  • The second thing to observe in this prayer is that the Psalmist told the Lord what is in his heart. It was not his words spoken or any deeds done that he talks about. The heart reveals the real person and from the heart, it will spring forth all outward words, deeds and attitudes.
  • The Psalmist then declared to the Lord that his heart is not haughty. To be haughty is to be proud, have high opinion of oneself, contemptuous of others, self-righteous to God. A haughty person is boastful of his past, proud of his present and ambitious of his future. Before the Lord, can we say that our heart is not haughty?
  • Then the next declaration to the Lord is his eyes are not lofty i.e. seek not for high positions or elevated places and personal attention. When your eyes are lofty, you will despise the weak and lowly in status. The eyes always follow what the heart desires. When your heart is haughty, your eyes will be lofty.
  • With a humble heart, the Psalmist declares that he does not exercise himself in great matters. Great matters belong to the Lord. We must learn to mind our own business and not try to control and dictate the lives of others. Great matters of the unknown future belong to God. We do not probe into things not revealed to us, neither do we speculate about it nor should we be self-conceited to say I know all things. We must focus on our personal calling from the Lord to follow Him and do His will in our own individual lives.
  • Lastly, the Psalmist declares from his heart that he does not engage in things too high for him. He knows high and great tasks can belong to others but not himself. Great things can suit others but not him. One must be humble to know our own size, gifts and capacity that God has given to us. Do not be foolish to dream of doing only great things and neglect all the necessary and ‘small’ things that God wants you to do now. Some Christians will not serve God unless they are given ‘high and big’ tasks. I remember a saying that goes like this : “I am of no use to God until I realize He does not intend me to be a great man.”

In conclusion, may we pray to the Lord to make us lowly, keep us lowly and fix us forever in lowliness.

Once again, I want to encourage all members to come for Church Tuesday night Prayer Meeting knowing that we depend on the Lord every day and every moment in our lives and in our Church and in everything we do.

Elder John Leong