Yesterday we thought about 'psalms for special occasions' with a focus on the Ascent Psalms (121 - 134) and Hallel Psalms (113 - 118).  From these we focused on Psalms 131 and 116, in that order.

Psalm 131 is a very short psalm at the heart of which is a beautiful image - a weaned child (so somewhere between six months and five years of age) snuggled up with their mother.  This is how the psalmist imagines himself (almost certainly a 'he') in the presence of God.

The language of the psalm merits careful reflection.

It is the psalmist who has done the stilling and quieting, not the mother who has comforted him... the 'be still' or 'desist' of Psalm 46 is possibly more familiar, with God saying, 'stop what you are doing this instant'.  Snuggling up to mother-God, the psalmist stops wriggling, stops worrying, stops doing or thinking, and just enjoys the moment.  'I have stilled and quieted myself' he says... I have chosen this state of being.

For sure, that this is so means that God is snuggle-up-to-able, safe, welcoming, accepting - you wouldn't do this (or not more than once or twice) with someone who might push you away or shout at you for disturbing their peace.  But it is about the writer consciously choosing and acting in order to enjoy that safe embrace.

As someone with a tendency to be busy, it was/is helpful to reflect on this image/metaphor and to remind myself that mother-God is waiting for this weaned child (i.e. not a baby, but someone growing in autonomy and self) to decide to come and snuggle up, not necessarily to say anything, but simply to enjoy the moment.