Psalm 131:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.

NIV: Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

NASB: Israel, wait for the Lord From this time on and forever.

CSB: Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forever.

NLT: O Israel, put your hope in the Lord — now and always.

KJV: Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever.

NKJV: O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever.

David's experience (Psalm 131:1) was that trusting the Lord brings peace and contentment (Psalm 131:2). This was just compared to a child's development of patience as they begin to eat solid foods. Saul persecuted David for ten years in the wilderness. He sought to kill David, but David had received the Lord's anointing (1 Samuel 16:13)and seemed to understand that he would one day be king (Psalm 18:50). Therefore, he trusted the Lord to fulfill His promise (1 Samuel 16:13). In time, the Lord placed David on the throne as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:4). So, David encourages the people of Israel to hope in the Lord.

Israel's long-term hope is for a kingdom ruled by the Messiah (Daniel 9:25; Isaiah 9:7). When Jesus ministered on earth, the Jews hoped the Promised One would overthrow the Romans (Acts 1:6) and set up the messianic kingdom. However, Jesus came the first time to redeem, not reign (John 18:36; Acts 1:7–8). He will establish His future earthly kingdom at His second coming. Today, Christians have the blessed hope (Titus 2:13) that Jesus will return. When that occurs, faith will give way to sight, and Christians will be with the Lord forever (John 14:1–3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

David declares that he has put all of his faith in the Lord, without arrogance or scheming. Like an infant who has just been fed, David is content to trust God. Rather than being impressed with himself, or concerned about things he does not understand, David chooses to calmly rely on the Lord. He encourages all Israel to do the same.

Fifteen psalms (Psalms 120—134) are part of a collection used when pilgrims would climb into the hills of Jerusalem for annual feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). Four of these songs "of ascents" (Psalm 122; 124; 131; 133) are labeled "of David," which may be a reference to style more than his personal writing. Yet this psalm echoes David's humility in faith (2 Samuel 7:18; Psalm 36:11).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.