This brief psalm (Psalm 131) is powerful and precise in its brilliant focus on the importance of faith in God while at the same time avoiding the folly of arrogance and self-reliance.

The arrogant man who operates in hubris will get himself in over his head in life. He will overrate his own importance and ability concerning his career, finances, speech, commitments, ministry, etc. In an attempt to control situations and manipulate the outcomes the hubris within a man will cause that same man to set himself up for failure. This is spoken of in verse one.

To the contrary, the man of faith can engage life with confidence in God and with reasonable expectations of himself. This is portrayed in verse two. The composed man has quieted his soul by recognizing his abilities while simultaneously trusting the Lord’s commitment to accomplish the great things in life.

Charles V (1500-1558) King of Spain, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire answered Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms on April 19, 1521:

"A single friar who goes counter to all Christianity for a thousand years must be wrong!"

The kenosis of Philippians 2:7 teaches that while Christ maintained the full position, attributes and knowledge of his deity, Christ also did these things when he became a man:

1.Took on full humanity. This taking on of humanity was not simply a thirty-three year commitment but was for the rest of eternity (1 Timothy 2:5)

2. Veiled his divine glory, which resulted in men not recognizing him as God. Isaiah indicated this in Isaiah 53:2 when he says, “He had no beauty or majesty (hadar –glory)” when he came as a servant. Note that, according to Isaiah 63:1, Jesus’ glory will not be veiled when he returns: “Who is this, robed in splendor (hadar – glory)”. Men did not see his glory but demons clearly could (Luke 4:34), although the disciples did see his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2-5; 2 Peter 1:16-18)

3. Voluntarily eschewed use of his divine attributes and authority for personal benefit (like turning stones into bread, floating off the temple pinnacle, or taking over the world system)
The main point of the kenosis is that Jesus left the condition he was in before the Incarnation, took on full humanity, and became a servant to man. We know that Jesus continued to be God and continued to use his divine attributes, because he demonstrated omniscience (Matthew 12:25; Luke 6:8), omnipresence (John 1:48-49) and omnipotence (John 11:43).