A Weaned Child
- Alan Fong
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
Today's Verse:
Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. ~Psalm 131:2
The weaning of a child is the gradual process by which a nursing mother moves her child from being dependent on nursing to being capable of feeding on its own. It is a necessary step for a child to adapt to growth and maturity. David uses the idea of weaning to teach us about being humble, responsible, and teachable, especially during times of difficulty and trial.
We see an essential practice.
“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.” Weaning is not an easy overnight accomplishment. It is done gradually over time through detachment and withdrawal. David used weaning to describe the spiritual state of his soul. He was saying that he had learned he needed to accept responsibility for his spiritual decisions and steps. Growing in the Christian life is not easy. He realized he needed to stop acting like an immature infant who cries when it does not get its way. He had learned to behave and quiet himself like a child who was weaned. A weaned child learns to wait and be disciplined in following an eating schedule. In like manner, a soul that is weaned learns to wait on God and develop proper spiritual discipline.
We see an excellent principle.
“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts” (Isaiah 28:9). Immature Christians are encouraged to desire the sincere milk of God’s Word, which represents the basic building blocks of the faith. However, every believer is exhorted not to keep consuming the milk of the Word, but to mature by feeding on the meat of the Word. Eating meat builds our spiritual muscle. Eating meat gives discernment to know right from wrong. God says those who are teachable and able to understand doctrine are those who have been weaned. Are you a Christian who has learned to build your soul by spending time in quiet study of God’s Word on your own? Or are you a Christian whose only source of spiritual nourishment is being fed through the preaching services once a week? You won’t become strong until you go through the spiritual weaning process.
We see the encouraged product.
“LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.” When we have been spiritually weaned, we learn how great God is and how little we are. We learn we have nothing to boast about and that anything good about us is a gift from God. We don’t try to act like spiritual big shots, bully other Christians, or act like we are kings in other people’s lives. David was the king of Israel when he wrote this psalm. Spiritually, he realized his life on earth was not to make a great name for himself and pursue great endeavors for his glory. He realized he was on earth to serve others by the will of God and be used to accomplish God’s purposes. Whatever vision God gives us is for His glory. Whatever great events occur happen so that our faith honors God.
When we are like a weaned child in our soul, we realize that we are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt us in due time. When our soul is like a weaned child, we understand more fully how God gives us more grace and sustains us when we are weak.
Are you still dependent on someone to nurse your soul? Start the weaning process, and taste and see that the Lord is good.
Have a teachable God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Isaiah 9-12
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