Psalms 131:3

"Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me."

Key Reflection

In the psalmist's day, the process of weaning involved gradually reducing a child’s milk diet to prepare them for adult food. By comparing his soul to that of a weaned child, the psalmist emphasizes a state of rest and contentment, much like a child who has successfully transitioned from dependence on its mother's milk. This metaphor conveys a sense of inner peace and trust in God, suggesting that the psalmist has found a deep, tranquil joy in his relationship with the divine, comparable to the comfort of maternal care during weaning.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Let Israel hope in the Lord ... -The connection would seem to require us to understand this as the assertion of him who had been accused of thoughts which seemed to be too lofty. As the result of all his reflections (of those reflections for which he was rebuked and charged with pride, but which were really conceived in a modest spirit) - as expressing what he saw that seemed to be in advance of what others saw, or to indicate a habit of thought beyond his years - he says that there were reasons why Israel should hope in the Lord; that there was a foundation for confident trust; that there was

More from Psalms 131

1 2 3 4

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion