Resting in the Lord Begins with Being Real...Part 3 of 4.

Part 3:

• SECONDLY, 
  
• In verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 131, David was being real concerning the way in which he viewed himself. 
  
  • How many of you remember, Turtleman, from the reality show Call of the Wildman? I have to admit that I was so disappointed when I found out that all that Turtleman did on that show was staged. No matter how hard the entertainment industry attempts to provide reality show after reality show…it’s so hard to trust them, knowing that many are staged/fake…far from reality…just a show that entertains deceptable viewers. 
    
  • Many of you know that the Lord allowed me to be part of starting a men’s ministry back in Iowa called Ox Strong. On occasion I write the men, and address them as Real Dudes…Not fake, but Vulnerable and Authentic/Transparent. Being authentic with one another and doing the same with the Lord. Doing so with the Lord, can come in a BeReal moment of conversation and or prayer without ceasing. 
    
  • There are many different reasons to be praying or calling out to the Lord...maybe for safety, protection, wisdom, salvation, gratitude, healing, Prayers for others. In Romans 10:1 (CSB) the Apostle Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation.” This is a self-examination and confession prayer...search me o God and know my heart…type of moment!!! 
    
  • In this particular Psalm, prayer, conversation with God, David wasn’t bragging about himself, but rather taking some BeReal time to confess some things to God. 
    
  • He knew full well that pride is sinful and that it can lead to a multitude of unhealthy emotions…Such as, 
    
    • Exhaustion. 
      
    • Discontentedness. 
      
    • Anxiety.
      
    • Hopelessness. 
      
    • And Unrest. 
      
  • Therefore, on the flip side, he points out three ways in which he has chosen to apply humility to his life. First,
    
    • In His Heart
      
      • In verse 1 he says in a BeReal moment with Adonai that “my heart is not proud.”
        
      • His time of self-examination / self-reflection reveals this about him. 
        
      • When coming to God pride must be dealt with and humility must be the heart attitude. God knows the heart. So, how does He view pride?
        
        • Proverbs 16:5 (CSB) Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD…
          
        • Proverbs 18:12 (CSB) Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
          
      • Could you confess the same heart attitude to the Lord today? The attitude that your heart is not proud. 
        
    • Secondly, In His Eyes.
      
      • In verse 1 he also says “my eyes are not haughty.” They are not arrogant, or elite over others or even over Adonai.
        
      • Proverbs 30:13 (CSB) reminds us that “There is a generation—how haughty its eyes and pretentious its looks.”
        
      • Psalm 121:1-2 (CSB) A song of ascents. I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
        
      • Do you ever find yourself looking up at Adonai, and looking down on others at the exact same time? Maybe this can be corrected by also considering this last way in which to be humble…to be…
        
    • Humble, In his Feet (His walk…His way of living).
      
      • At the conclusion of verse 1, he says “I do not get involved with things too great or too wondrous for me.”
        
      • One author points out that “The word that is translated ‘things too wonderful’ is used many times in the Psalms and is especially used to speak of God’s wonders and mighty deeds. In other words these are things that are too high for us, things that are beyond our power or too difficult for us to understand. So what is David saying in this verse? He is saying: ‘I have learned not to walk above my means. I have learned not to reach beyond my grasp. I have learned not to expend great effort trying to do things beyond my ability or attempting to understand things beyond my comprehension. [As King over Israel] I am willing to admit that there are things I cannot do, and many things I do not understand. And that’s okay, because my walk is humble, not proud. I’m not caught up in greatness, or achievements or accomplishments. I maintain a lowly, humble walk before the Lord, and I bow my knee to his great power and understanding.’ Do you want a simple translation of all that? David is basically saying: ‘I quit trying to play God.’”https://www.rayfowler.org/sermons/psalms-of-ascent/psalm-131-humbled-and-content/#:~:text=Psalm%20131%3A1),confessing%20his%20humility%20to%20God.
        
      • Understand this…
        

• Deut. 29:29 (CSB) The hidden things belong to the LORD our God…
  
• Job mentions in…Job 42:3 (CSB) You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance? ” Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know.
  
• Psalm 139:1-6 (CSB) 
  
  • 1 Lord, you have searched me and known me.
    2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away.
    3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways.
    4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.
    5 You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me.
    6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
    

• David continues with being real about himself in verse 2. I am no longer everything I spoke about in verse 1, yes, I may have attempted to be like that early in life, but no more…
  
  • [Verse 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKielj3kq4]
    
  • 2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted my soul
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    my soul is like a weaned child.
    
  • Notice…David begins verse 2 with the word “Instead” or “But rather”…I have calmed and I have made quiet my soul (made it still, smooth, and or leveled it…it has ceased from motion) like a weaned child because I do practice humility    and I do practice removing all that agitated my soul back in verse 1…I am now quiet, still, calm, no more wavering…no more being tossed to and fro like a wave of the sea. 
    

• When David is in his BeReal moments, then there’s no wondering who he is or even how he views himself. He’s just being authentic. 
  
• What about the prideful and wicked?…
  
  • Isaiah 57:20-21 (CSB) 20 But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its water churns up mire and muck. 21 There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God.
    
  • Such behavior is never beneficial to a King…nor to a follower of Adonai.