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PSALM

CHAPTER 40

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 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. 3 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.

Again we have that word "waited," which means "twisted together for strength." David entwined himself in the Lord and requested help. God "delivered" (saved) him out of trouble.

The only way for us to be saved from the trouble of sin is to entwine ourselves in the Lord. And the only way for us to be saved from the difficulties of life is to entwine ourselves with the Lord.

David praises God because of the deliverance he has received. God picked him up when he was sinking in "miry clay." God placed his feet upon a "rock," a solid foundation.

Indeed, a person when saved, is pulled by the Lord out of the "quicksand" of sin, and placed upon the "Solid Rock" of Jesus Christ.

And when our way becomes dim as Christians, God will also pull us up and keep our feet on Christ.

God puts a "new song" in our mouth - it is a song of praise to Him. It is through our praise to God for His mercy and grace that others realize the truth of God and the way of salvation.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

A man is "blessed," or blissfully happy when he trusts in God and lives according to God's will and not by the ways of the world. He is blessed because he knows the joy of God's presence. He is blessed because he knows the end of this life is eternal joy with God.

God has done so much for us by His grace that we cannot tell them all. He is constantly working for our benefit!

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Although sacrifices and offerings were ordered by God for the Israelites, those were not what God really wanted. The sacrifices and offerings were designed to bring man to a genuine understanding. God desires that we know how sinful we are, and how much we need His forgiveness and mercy. But all the sacrifices and offerings in the world cannot truly be enough for our sins.

The sacrificial system of the Israelites was given to bring them to yield themselves to God! THIS is what God wants from us!

Though David desired to become fully given to God, he never completely accomplished it. Neither can any man.

But these words describing that desire in David do apply to the ONE MAN Who accomplished it - JESUS CHRIST!

Jesus, God in flesh, truly had his "ear opened," which means he became totally enslaved to God's will for His life. The word "opened" means to bore open, or to pierce. It applied to the piercing of the ear of a slave to show ownership. Jesus was God in flesh, therefore, He was fully owned of God.

God required God to pay our sin debt! The one who harms another by an act of unkindness can never repay that act. It must be forgiven. And it is the one harmed who must forgive. God Himself had to pay for our sins at Calvary.

Indeed, it is written in the "volume of the book" of Christ (verse 7). Virtually every book of the Bible tells something about Jesus. The Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ.

It is He, and He ALONE, Who delighted in doing God's will fully and completely (verse 8). The WORD of God certainly had the WORD of God in His heart!

He came and spoke truth - absolute truth, and did not "refrain" or withhold though it cost Him his life at Calvary (verse 9). ((See Philippians 2:5-11))

Jesus declared the "salvation" of God (verse 10). He said that "...no man cometh to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

David knew that God was going to send Messiah as one of his descendents (2Samuel 7:12-16). And David purposed in his heart to try and live with the model of Messiah as his guide. THIS is how Christians should live today!

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 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.

David has acknowledged that God has delivered him in times past. He has praise God for that deliverance. David has realized that sacrificial animals and offerings are not the answer; and that it is genuine self-commitment that God wants. He has also given God that commitment.

Now he begs for deliverance from a new problem. He pleads for God to preserve him by granting mercy and teaching him truth (verse 11).

He also recognizes that his trouble is the result of his sins (verse 12). He is ashamed to "look up," and his heart is faint because of his sins.

But David also knows the goodness and mercy of God, and he shall continue his prayer.

(((Let me mention that the remainder of this song, verses 13-17, is the same as Psalm 70.))

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. 14 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. 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. 17 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.

David asks God to "be pleased" to deliver him. It is God's DESIRE, and is pleasing to Him to save sinners out of sin, and help His own when they are in trouble. (See 2Peter 3:9)

Perhaps it was when Saul was chasing David relentlessly that he prayed this prayer. Perhaps it was when Absalom, his own son, revolted and tried to take over the kingdom. Or perhaps it was when Adonijah, his own son, tried to take over the kingdom.

But David's prayer is that GOD HIMSELF would take care of the "evildoers." Though they tried to "destroy" him, and though they mocked him, he did not retaliate with unkindness. Instead he begged GOD to take care of the problem. (See Matthew 5:11)

David exemplified Christ when he acted in this manner. And this is the way that all Christians should act today.

Then, those who truly "seek" God, can rejoice in His salvation (verse 16).

Though we may be "poor and needy," God owns us and will not forsake us. He is our "help and Deliverer."

CHAPTER 41

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

David was a sinner like all men before and after him. But God said he was a "man after mine own heart" (Acts 13:22). The reason? Because David willingly confessed his sins and desired a close relationship with God.

Here David expresses a truth. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor..." God will take care of that person.

We are all spiritually wretched and miserable and poor because of sin. God cares for us. To care for the poor is to be like God.

David requests healing from sickness (verse 4). He is physically ill, and his request is for physical healing. But his request also acknowledges the sinsickness of his soul and his need for healing spiritually.

5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? 6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. 7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. 8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. 12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. 13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

While David is ill, his "enemies" are taking advantage of the situation. They are saying that he will not "arise" from this sickness.

David experienced a very close friend leaving him (verse 9). This was very prophetic of Judas leaving Christ.

But David also realizes that God is merciful (verse 10) and will "favour" him (verse 11). God will not let the enemy of sin reign over those who are truly surrendered to Him.

God will complete the salvation He begins in each saved soul (verse 12). He will raise them up, even from graves, and stand them in holy righteousness before His throne!

PRAISE GOD!

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