Through The Valley Of Humiliation

Psalm 131

A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

1LORD, my heart is not proud;

my eyes are not haughty.

I don’t concern myself with matters too great

or awesome for me.

2But I have stilled and quieted myself,

just as a small child is quiet with its mother.

Yes, like a small child is my soul within me.

3O Israel, put your hope in the LORD—

now and always.

In the second part of The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan tells of Christiana’s journey through the same dangerous territory that her husband had previously taken. She is fearful as she approaches the Valley of Humiliation, but her guide, Mr. Great-Heart, consoles her: “It is the best and most fruitful piece of ground in all these parts . . . for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Then they notice a shepherd boy feeding his father’s sheep. The boy is singing:

He that is down, needs fear no fall;

He that is low, no pride.

He that is humble ever shall

Have God to be his guide.

Mr. Great-Heart continues, “Our Lord loved much to be here, and I must tell you that men have met with angels here, have found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of life.”

It sounds strange, perhaps, to extol the blessings of humiliation. But maybe that is what Philippians 2:5-11 is all about. At the beginning of that passage that spells out the humility of Jesus is the verse “Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.”

He came down to earth from heaven

Who is God and Lord of all,

And his shelter was a stable,

And his cradle was a stall:

With the poor and mean and lowly

Lived on earth, our Savior holy.

CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER

Bible Networking

This psalm exudes humility. We find the best picture of humility in Philippians 2:5-11, but also check out Proverbs 15:33; John 13:14-15; 2 Corinthians 8:9; and 1 Peter 5:5-6.

Notable Quotable

“That which first overcame the human race is the last thing it overcomes.”

SAINT AUGUSTINE