Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned and heard my desire. He raised me out of the slimy pit. Out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on a solid rock, Gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song into my mouth, Praise hymns to our God, so grand. Many will see this and honor You. They will trust You and be blessed. They refuse to worship the false gods Or by the proud be impressed. Many are the wonders You have done, The things You have planned for us. If I were to speak and tell of them, They’re too many to discuss. I’ll sacrifice and give offering, But those You do not desire. Burnt offerings and sin offerings From me You do not require. Then I said, “Here I am,I have come. It is written in the scroll. I desire to do Your will, O God. Your law is within my soul.” I proclaim Your righteousness In the assembly so great. I do not seal my lips, as You know Nor Your righteousness abate. I speak of Your loving faithfulness. Your salvation I declare. I do not conceal Your love and truth, But with everyone I share. Do not withhold Your mercy from me. May Your love and truth protect. For troubles will surround And my sins blind and infect. They’re more than the hairs of my head And my heart fails within me. Be pleased, O Lord, to save and rescue. Come quickly to help, I plea. May all who seek to take my life Be confused and put to shame. And may all who desire my ruin Turn back in disgrace and blame. May those who say to me, “Aha” At their own shame be appalled, But all who seek and rejoice in You In salvation be enthralled. Yet I am in want, needy, and poor. May You, O Lord, think of me. You are my help, my deliverer. Do not delay, set me free.
David leads us through six stages of his experience. First, David is in a muddy pit; second, he cries to God for help; third, he waits for the Lord; fourth, God draws him out of the pit to safety; fifth, God gives David a new song to sing; sixth, many others come to trust God when they see this pattern of life.
A pit is a well or cistern. It is a picture of mire and mud. We can see that today as a sense of helplessness and desperation when we have come to the end of our rope, our patience, our health, or our circumstance. We come to the breaking point. Anything that causes a sense of helplessness and desperation and threatens to ruin life or take it away is our pit.
When this happens, we do not cry out to man, we cry out to God. And then, it is very important to wait. The reason this is so important for us is that it guards us from unbelief when God’s help seems long in coming. Waiting for the Lord is a great part of the Christian life. We are to be humble but also hopeful. Psalm 130:5, “I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope.” When will He come? At the right time. That is all we can know. And that is enough.
He will lift us out of the pit and give us a new song to sing. The song will be ours personally and will be an example of faith to others. Sing your song to those who are in distress and give them hope.
