Weaned

Psalm 131 is short, here it is in its entirety:

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
    my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
    too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore.

We focused on the word “weaned” because that’s what caught my attention last week as I read this Psalm. Why did God inspire the psalmist to describe the content child as weaned? Why is that important? What is the distinction between a breastfeeding child who is calm and quiet with her mother compared to a weaned child who is calm and quiet with her mother?

There was a lot of thought, but also a lot of silence when I asked the above questions. Then Jen responded, “a breastfeeding baby is content because he’s being fed, a weaned child is content just because he’s near Mom.”

Precisely. A feeding child’s contentment comes from what she receives from Mom in the moment – a weaned child is content just being near Mom.

What a great illustration for our relationship with God. If our only contentment with God is when we recognize He’s providing for our needs, our contentment ends when our feeding ends. However, when we mature to the point where we are content just to be in God’s presence, whether we feel He’s meeting our needs in the moment or not, that’s where true contentment is found. God’s presence is always available – so contentment can always be found.

A weaned baby has learned that Mom will provide, even if Mom isn’t giving him milk right now. He’s content to be in Mom’s presence because he believes Mom will provide.

Breastfeeding babies view Mom as a milk dispenser. Breastfeeding Christians view God as a blessing dispenser.

Weaned babies view Mom as the one who sustains their lives – they trust that even if Mom isn’t feeding them now, she will. Weaned Christians view God as the One who sustains their lives – they trust that even if God isn’t feeding them now, He will.