One of the most surprising pictures Jesus paints of a disciple is that he or she is “like a little child” (Luke 18:17). It’s a picture of dependence. Children don’t need to strive to earn an income, feed, or clothe themselves. Everything they need is provided by their loving parents. Therefore, children don’t ever need to feel worried or anxious. They can be content in the arms of those who will love, provide, and protect them. David, too, understands that this is a picture of every faithful believer.

Today’s short psalm blends the contrasting themes of contentment and discontentment. The latter can take the form of dissatisfaction with life’s circumstances in which God has placed you. Of course, if God provides the resources to change your life situation, then it may be appropriate to do so. But if not, the call is to be content (see Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:11–13).

Sometimes, discontent can express itself in a desire for more or bigger. We want more money, a bigger house, a greater reputation. This can be a form of pride, which David speaks of in the opening verse of Psalm 131. It’s a kind of pride that is obsessed with matters “too wonderful for me”.

One man who fell into that trap was the 8th-century king Uzziah, one of Judah’s greatest kings. 2 Chronicles tells us that “as long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success” (26:5). Sadly, he later forgot his position before God and sought to do things beyond his God-given role. In verse 16, we’re told that “after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” This work was not given to the king, but the priests. Uzziah had sought things “too wonderful” for him.

The same warning against pride and discontentment applies to us. The apostle Paul encouraged Christians to “not think of yourself more highly than you ought” (Romans 12:3). We are to be content with the position God has given us.

In contrast to Uzziah’s pride, David likened himself to a weaned child (Psalm 131:2). The weaned child is happy to rest content in his mother’s arms. Unlike pride, which seeks to make oneself great, contentment seeks only to rest in all that God has given us. We don’t need to keep striving to save ourselves—we can’t; rather, salvation is God’s work, so we rest in what He has done for us. We don’t need to strive to make a name for ourselves; instead, God has promised to glorify us. We don’t need to prove how successful we are; it is God who will reward us for our humble, faithful service.

So let’s put our hope in the Lord, both now and for evermore (v. 3).