At Peace in God’s Arms
Today was a good holiday Saturday. Well, kind of a normal Saturday for us. Work around the house, walking the dog and for me a trip to the fitness center and the pool. I think I felt the impact of my activity later in the day, but it is good to be finding greater strength. I stood for the first time in church tonight without leaning on a crutch. But I was holding on to Debbie.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…I am calm and quiet, like a baby with its mother. I am at peace, like a baby with its mother. People of Israel, put your hope in the Lord now and forever.” Psalm 131:2,3
This “Psalm of Ascent” is one of the shortest and one of the most vivid in its imagery and most poetic in its prose. This psalm is at the end of the journey for spiritual pilgrims, traveling to the “City of God” to the place of worship. It is a picture of arriving at the “House of God” and being in the presence of the God.
In God’s presence is peace and satisfaction. It is a place of rest. David declared, “.. you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psa. 16:11) Paul ended his second letter to the Thessalonians with this benediction, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way…”                 (2 Thess. 3:16) Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you….” (John 14:27)
In this psalm we see that those we experience peace in God’s arms understand their need and their limitation. “Lord, my heart is not proud; I don’t look down on others. I don’t do great things, and I can’t do miracles.” (Psa. 131:1)
I believe the psalmist is looking to God in humble reliance. He realizes his need and his powerlessness to change things. This is opposite of the view of the “self-reliant” individual, who believes they are above others who need God and who believe they have the power to change their lives and destiny. We find that we get what we need, when we realize that we don’t have what want, and understand the Lord is our source.
The psalmist doesn’t discuss any specific problems or trials, but simply describes a state of peace and satisfaction in the presence of the Lord. He says it is like a an infant satisfied and quiet and at peace in his mother’s arms. Perhaps there is no greater picture of peace and rest than a baby sleeping in a mother’s arms.
I am reminded of the words to the old hymn that tells us, “there is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God, a place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.” The chorus of that song goes on to say, “O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God; Hold us, who wait before Thee, Near to the heart of God.”
For the tired, for the weak. For the stressed, distressed, worried and fearful. For the lonely and those who need a “time out” from the concerns of life, God offers his peace and rest in His presence, in His arms.