Have you ever had a scripture tattooed on your heart? You return to it year after year without fully understanding what it means. But it speaks to you, and you cannot let it go?
The NIV Bible my husband gave me in 1991 does not have this scripture underlined. FYI, I write, highlight, underline, and draw pictures on every printed page I read in my Bible or otherwise. That's why I go through reams of paper every year. I print out text from the internet, emails, and text messages. I need to have a hard copy in my hands. Then I read through them marking what stands out to me as important—things I want to return to and think about or research. The fact that it wasn't underlined means that while I may have read it many times, it didn't hold meaning to me.
My Amplified Classic Bible, which I bought in 1995, does have the scripture underlined with an added written notation. My New Spirit Filled Life Bible (NKJV), which I purchased in 2009 also has more notations. But it wasn't until 2017, that this scripture started bubbling up in me at different times. By then, I thought I knew what it meant. On one level, I did know, but I also knew there was more. This one verse came to mind over and over and I'd chew on it some hoping to get the answers I was after.
Well, my blog reading family, yesterday, I opened my newest Amazon purchase, The Art of Praying the Scriptures, by John Paul Jackson. There was my scripture on the very first page all by itself. You are likely saying, "Well, tell us already. What is the scripture?"
Here you go:
Surely, I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within. Psalm 131:2
It was as if neon paint lit up the text.
My question for these passing years was, "Why did you use the term 'weaned child,' David?"
And "What is it about this scripture, Lord, that I am not seeing?"
Yesterday, my understanding grew.
Already written in my other Bibles were the facts that knowing Him will calm our souls. I'd written, "David wrote what he did because of God's covenant with him and God's faithfulness to keep it. Knowing Him caused him to trust."
While these things are true, the notation I wrote in this new book on my lap was this: "The child was not hungry looking at its mother as a source to meet his immediate need for food. He was with his mom for another reason. She was a place of peace, love, and safety he could depend on." I left it at that and went to bed.
This morning, I put on my walking shoes and headed out the door at 5:15. Walking in pre-dawn darkness eliminated the possibility of traffic or dogs on our gravel road. As I walked, the scripture kept repeating in whispers.
Visions of moms nursing infants came to mind. If you've ever nursed your baby or watched a mom do so, you know a mom often must wrestle with a fussy or crying baby. The infant refuses to be satisfied with a pacifier or anything, other than mom's supply. Nursing and calm do not occur until the supply is found and used.
I considered another thing. A nursing baby is not only being fed, but one of their ears is against their mother's side. They can hear her heartbeat. It's the same heartbeat they heard in the womb. They know they are home now with the one who has been with them since conception. Now, they can relax.
After this, my vision changed. When a weaned child is tired, or in need of comfort, they will also lay their head on mom's chest. They may bury their head in mom's neck and rest in her arms. There were more notations to make when I got home.
Later, when I sat down with my Bible and coffee, I prayed. "Thank You, Holy Spirit giving me new understanding. Is there more You want me to see?"
My new book lay next to me on the table. I picked it up and flipped it open to the bookmark--Chapter One. The first sentence in the second paragraph caught my eye. The words leaped from the page for consideration.
"Historically, those who sought a deeper spiritual path meditated on and prayed Scriptures—not to gain knowledge or gather information, but to become 'one in spirit' with the Living God."
Whoa! At this point, another scripture shouted within me, John 17:21.
"that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." NKJV
Holy Spirit was clarifying a verse which I've also considered many times over the years. Jesus wants us as believers to be one with one another. But His greatest desire is that we be one with His Father. And it's not about book knowledge and facts but a relationship.
When you have a good friend or spouse in your life, you learn how they think, what makes them happy, and what makes them mad or fearful. You know how they handle conflict or grief. You know how they express love or joy. You know what excites or bores them to tears because you are with them.
So, the question comes. Are we reading, meditating, and praying scriptures to deepen our relationship with our Bridegroom King? Or do we want something from Him? Are we content to simply BE with Him, satisfied in His Presence? Or are we trying to get something?
Selah – (stop and consider). Are we weaned children or still infants looking for our next meal? Relationships are not nurtured for good with this kind of practice.
Sheridan Bucket is a fictional character in an old British Comedy Series called, Keeping Up Appearances. He is the only child of Hyacinth and Richard Bucket. In every time he calls home, he needs finances. Hyacinth, his mother, is an enabler. She continues to hand out whatever Sheridan asks. But Richard, his father, is angry when their son calls. He is frustrated with this constant lack of wisdom on his wife's part.
Our Father, God, is merciful and gracious. He is pure love. But what He wants to give us, more than anything, is Himself in a relationship. It isn't based on His ability to supply whatever we need but on His love and desire to reveal Himself to us.
It's time to put away our phones, shut down the podcasts on our laptops and tablets, and go to some quiet place. Take 5 minutes and BE with Him. He may lead you to your Bible or He may not. You may hear Him speak in your spirit or you may not. But let's be willing to focus on Him only like a 'weaned child with his mother,' and enjoy His company. May we learn how to calm our souls, (minds, wills, and emotions) and rest in Him. He often whispers, so let's be still and rest. It's not about how much we can get from Him. It's about knowing and enjoying Him.
The LORD told the prophet, Jeremiah, "Let the one who boasts boast about this, That they have the understanding to know Me. I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness, on earth, for in these I delight." Declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:24
He is waiting for each of us.
Shalom ♥
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