Hello everyone.
In this blog post, I will be discussing insights that can be gained from Psalm 40.
Once again, I am struck by the vulnerability and intimacy that David revealed in his walk with God.
In Psalm 40:1-3 we read:
“(To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:1-3 (KJV)
In these verses, I see David expressing his trust in the LORD, and his testimony of waiting patiently for the LORD’s response to his cry. I see David recounting how God delivered him from a troubling situation and put joy and gratitude in his heart as a result. I see how David recognizes that his experience will be an inspiration to others. Whenever God delivers us, He leaves us with testimonies that can inspire others to reverence and trust in God.
Everything involved in salvation is others centered. The circle of love that God created is others centered. As God heals and delivers us, places His sweet love in our hearts and shows us how to live a life governed by His loving wisdom, the experience that we have with Him is a beacon of light to all around us.
In verses 4 and 5, David recounts the value of trusting in God and the great goodness of God. In verses 6-8, we see that God values heart worship greatly, and in verses 7-10, we see David affirming his sincere love for God. We also see him reminding God that he serves Him from the heart.
I find verses 11-16 of this chapter to be touching.
“Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.” Psalm 40:11-16
David asks God to show him His mercies and to let His truth preserve him. He acknowledges that he struggles with sin and that he feels overwhelmed by the sin in his life. David trusts God to be His deliverer. He realizes that, unworthy as he is, God is for for him. He asks God to defend him from those who are seeking to hurt him, and he prays a blessing on all those who love and serve God.
My takeaways from verses 11-16: God is a loving God. He is merciful and loving, yet He is also a God of truth. Indeed, in Isaiah 61:8, God tells us that He will direct our ways in truth. We can openly acknowledge to God our struggles with sin. He is our deliverer and He is the right one to go to when we find ourselves struggling with temptation or burdened with guilt. Also, God cares about the pain that we receive from other people in our lives. We can run to Him when our hearts are hurting as the result of being mistreated.
Lastly, God is a righteous judge. We can take courage and have peace as we observe all that happens in the world, knowing that our loving God does take notice of both good and evil and that we can be open with Him regarding all that we experience here.
David ends this psalm by saying; “But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.” Psalm 40:17 (KJV)
David recognizes his frailty and the fact that he has no merit to present before the Lord, and yet he can also express His confidence in the Lord’s thoughtfulness towards him, and he can ask God to help and deliver him, and to do so quickly.
My prayer for us all is that we will be touched by David’s vulnerability with God and that we will either begin to or continue to show this same vulnerability towards Him when we talk with Him in prayer. God is for us! He wants to be our Best Friend and our Savior.
Blessings and courage to all.
Learn and Grow 4ever 