Psalm Devotional
Spiritual Maturity
Psalms 130 and 131 are a pair. Psalm 130 presents the objective realities involved in ascending into the presence of God by means of His forgiveness and redemption (130:4, 7; see Heb. 10:18; 12:22). Psalm 131 presents the subjective realities in response to that abundant redemption (130:7).
In Psalm 131, the subjective effect is set out first (v. 1), then the subjective means to that effect (v. 2), and then the renewed call to all of God’s people (v. 3; 130:7; Israel) to trust God alone and forever for every good thing. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking that arises out of our desires, but confident expectation grounded in the faithfulness of God.
The Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134) were perhaps sung as Israel came up to Jerusalem for the three great feasts (Exod. 23:14-17). These feasts celebrated the faithfulness of God and vindicated the hope of His people. The covenant name (Lord) begins and ends this psalm and indicates the solid foundation for confident expectation of eternal good (v. 3; Rom. 8:18).
