Limited and Unlimited • Psalm 131

1:15:24 Teaching begins

Notes

Psalm 131 is short but it contains radical ideas. They might even be shocking if you’ve never thought about them before.

One, that you are limited.

Two, that it’s okay to admit that you are limited.

Because then you can depend on God who is not limited.

Are you interested?

Let’s read Psalm 131.

1. One translation of verse one says, “Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance.”

A. Pride is thinking you’re a better person than you really are. Arrogance is how you treat other people. You let them know you’re better than they are.

B. David is a man of God, and you think, “Really? David was an arrogant man?” Well, he says so right here.

C. David might have reason to think he was better than a lot of people.

1. The first we see of him he is anointed king of Israel. All his brothers were rejected, but he is anointed by the prophet in the presence of all his brothers.

2. He kills a lion and a bear while taking care of the sheep.

3. He killed Goliath while two armies are watching.

4. He is made a commander and goes out and wins battle after battle. He’s popular.

5. He plays an instrument and sings and writes songs. He performs for the king of Israel.

6. He’s special friends with the king’s son, and he marries the king’s daughter.

7. The Holy Spirit is upon him. He is the anointed of God.

2. David used to involve himself in things far above him, things too difficult for him.

A. Things happened to David that he tried to figure out and solve. He asked questions he found he couldn’t answer. He found he couldn’t solve his situation.

B. I asked myself what are matters too high for David? What are things too difficult for him?

1. Why did the king start attacking me?

2. Why do I have to run away and leave my wife?

3. Why do I have to live like an outlaw when I didn’t do anything wrong?

4. Why are my own tribe members betraying me?

5. Why doesn’t Saul show me mercy when I show him mercy?

6. You could go on and on. They are all “why?” questions.

C. There are no answers. David can’t answer, he can’t solve his problems.

D. He has no peace. He lives in stress.

E. David also had ambition on at least two occasions.

1. He wanted to build God a house. Psalm 132 says David vowed to the Lord he would not sleep till he found a place for the temple. He told Nathan the prophet about it, Nathan said, basically, “Why not?” God said to Nathan, “Tell My servant, ‘Are you the one to build Me a house?’” God told both of them, that’s not My will. That may have been humbling for David to think, “I really wanted to do that, but He said, ‘No.’”

2. Another time David wanted to know how many people there were in Israel. All the commanders of the army tried to tell him, don’t do this. Joab resisted David until David said, do it. When Joab looks more spiritual than you, you’re in trouble. When David hears the number his heart tells him, you have done foolishly.

F. David tried to solve his problems. He tried to satisfy his ambition, to be more than he already was.

3. At a certain point David had a moment of realisation. He turned a corner in his suffering. He realised he was limited.

A. I’m trying to deal with things that only God can answer. He’s doing things in my life. He knows what He is doing. He is in control.

B. I’m not in control. My understanding is limited. My vision is limited. My goodness is limited. My motives are limited. Everything about me is limited.

C. I’m not sufficient to solve my problems like God. I’m not the same as God. I’m limited and God is not.

D. David quieted himself to be like a weaned child.

1. It’s a level of progress. A baby goes from milk to solid food.

2. It demands strength to hold the neck up so a baby doesn’t choke on the food. It demands eye to hand coordination so the food gets in the mouth.

3. It takes development until the baby can eat big person food.

E. David developed from thinking he had to know what’s going on. He’s going to decide what’s good for him, what he ought to do. He realised his life was God’s business, not his. He matured and became humble.

4. Because he knew he was limited, David put all his hope in God, who is not limited.

A. Here are some scriptures showing that God has no limit.

1. His lovingkindness is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, Psalm 103:17.

2. His faithfulness reaches to the heavens, Psalm 36:5. We haven’t found the limit of the universe yet.

3. His greatness is unsearchable, Psalm 145:3. His riches in Christ are unsearchable, Ephesians 3:8. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways, Romans 11:33.

B. David realised, God is going to get me where He wants me to be. He knows what I need and will supply my needs. I don’t have to know how He’s going to do it. That’s His job, not mine. This is how you write a psalm that begins, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

C. David decided, my job is to serve God in my generation. I’m not building a reputation for myself so people remember me. I do what God says. If He says, “No.” That’s okay.

5. Now David speaks to Israel, and to everyone listening to this psalm: hope in the Lord.

A. That is, realise you have limits. You can’t handle your life. It’s proud and arrogant to think you know what you’re doing, you know what others should be doing. You know what kind of person you ought to be. I should be able to do this and this and solve my problems. It’s causing you stress and trouble. It’s not mature.

B. Admit to yourself and to others, “I’m limited.” It’s okay. That’s becoming mature.

C. Then put all your expectation on God. Wait for the Lord, who has no limit. Psalm 130:7-8 says why: He has lovingkindness and abundant redemption.

1. Lovingkindness keeps you satisfied right now. David is resting like a weaned child with its mother. That child is at rest because it knows Mom loves me. Nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. You get peace.

2. Abundant redemption solves everything. Redemption frees you from your sins and gives you perfect righteousness. And when Jesus comes He gives you the redemption of your body. You will be raised from the dead with eternal glory. Resurrection will solve everything you face right now.

3. You also pray. Prayer is helplessness. You don’t pray because you don’t think you’re helpless. But if you’re helpless, you commit your burden to the Lord. He will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be shaken.

D. It’s okay to admit you are limited because then you hope in God who is unlimited.

Let’s pray.