Psalm 40 - Out Of The Depths!!!
Despair is an outgrowth emotional and spiritual upheaval. Events happen in our lives that cause us to have emotional and spiritual setbacks. It could be experiencing chronic illness and pain that is debilitating and life altering. It could be the loss of a dream, or the expectations of life turning out different than it has. It could be the loss of employment and the damage that can cause to personal finances and the ability to provide for your family. It could be a culmination of a series of setbacks where you have been denied progress by others, where you are looked down upon, or not considered suitable - so you start to question your true purpose in this life.
King David knew what it was like to live in upheaval and turbulent times. He knew what it was like to hav people seek to ‘literally’ end his life. He knew what it was like to have his sins impact on not only his life but that of the people he led as a nation.
So, in Psalm 40 we see a wonderfully, and meaningfully expressive call out to the Lord. We see David opening up his heart and soul for us to view in all its messiness.
(Artwork by SCHISM)
Psalm 40 says…
Verses 1-3: “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”
Waiting patiently…I can say for myself, that is easier said than done. Patience is not one of my strongpoints - and that is probably true of some of you. But when we are waiting for God to intervene in our lives (and often in difficult times), waiting patiently is almost impossible to do - we want God to intervene now, so that we can get off this crazy ride that we are going through.
But God doesn’t work on human time - HE never has - and HE never will. God will do what HE wills for our lives, and HE will do it in HIS own time.
But our understanding of that concept is always clouded by the emotional and spiritual turmoil we are experiencing in whatever of life’s ills is currently afflicting us. When we are going through things we always seem to forget the hundred other times that God has come through for us (and David makes this point later on in this psalm). Which makes it hard for us to be patient.
King David then begins to tell us of what God had done in his life. By giving him a new perspective on life, and for pulling him out of his depression. Depression and despair are real things, felt by people like you and I, and King David - yet King David provides us with a direction to move into to have a place of peace and joy.
Praise and worship of God, even in our darkest and deepest of times helps change the focus from within ourselves to that of a higher purpose, a higher being in God. t is then that our eyes get lifted from focussing on the muck and mire that we are stuck in - but rather that there is someone who is eternal, and has holy authority looking out for us.
It is in that moment in which we gain the patience to wait for God to act on our behalf.
Verses 4-5: “Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.”
How many of us would love to have real joy in our lives? I know I do. It’s not something that I have experienced too much of in my life given it has been a life of real struggle more the vast majority of my life.
We can only access that joy which comes from the Lord by fully placing ALL of our trust in HIM. We cannot place our trust in people at all - they will for sure let us down - God is the only being who will never let us down, nor will HE cast us aside.
If we focus on what God has already done in our lives, and recount the blessings we have already been gifted then we begin to see that what David writes is indeed true - “O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list.”
The more we lean on God, the more we place our FULL and undivided trust in HIM - the more HE is able to do things in our lives.
But when we are constantly focussed on our circumstances and our problems then all we will find is despair and pain. If we turn our eyes to Jesus - like the old hymn says - then we will find that joy only HE can provide.
Verses 6-8: “You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand — you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”
Perhaps David is referring to a time that the Prophet Samuel spoke the word of God to King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22 “But Samuel replied “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
I am sure Samuel the prophet would have recounted this story of God turning HIS back on Saul as king due to his disobedience, to King David as a form of warning during his reign (prior to Samuel’s death).
Obedience is what God wants from us - not elaborate ceremonies, not fancy technologically driven stage performances in our services. HE wants us to be obedient to what HE has told us to do, both as individuals and as the church at large.
We can only do this when we read, learn and apply God’s word to our lives.
Verse 9-10: “I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.”
Spreading the gospel is what believers have always been called on to do. We should always be ready to give testimony to God’s work and provision in our lives.
1 Peter 3:15 informs us that… “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”
We should be prepared to tell others both believers and non-believers alike on how God has been active in our lives and the lives of our family.
Verse 11-15: “Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles surround me too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage. Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
These few verses are some of the most telling and vital in this whole psalm. They show the utter humanness of King David. Here is the champion that killed Goliath. Here is the champion who went and killed multitudes of the enemy (and also brought back the foreskins of his enemy as a sign to Saul he was worthy of his daughter in marriage). Here is the man who led a group of might warriors in a guerrilla campaign against their enemies all the while being pursued by King Saul. Here is the mighty king who spread the boundaries of the nation of Israel….And yet he wavers in his emotional state, and his soul aches with despair.
David shows us…ourselves in this moment.
How many times do we declare honour and glory to God in one moment then go crawling back to HIM as we fear for our very lives as life events threaten to swamp us? Too often to count would be my guess.
But the important thing to understand in all of this is that God wants us to crawl back to HIM, even in our wavering faith and emotional fragility. HE wants us to call out to HIM so that HE can turn around and do great things in mending our hearts, minds and spirits - as well as intervening in our situations.
So, do think for a minute that you should ever stop crying out to God to help you. Just do it, leave your problems at HIS feet and watch HIM to HIS thing.
Verses 16-17: “But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my saviour. O my God, do not delay.”
David usually finishes his psalms with a recognition of his lowly state and the divine supremacy of God.
David knows his salvation can only come from God, and it is to God he repeatedly turns to in the moments of crisis that he faces.
But as David ends this psalm he slips in one final plea from a fragile human being - “O my God, do not delay.” - I bet you have prayed and utter those same words many times too - I know I have. And that is okay.
Just like God heard the cries of his people when they were in slavery in Egypt - Exodus 2:23-25 informs us that… “Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.”
But also in Proverbs 15:29 it says “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”
God hears what you say to HIM…even if it is in the deepest darkest hours of the night and tears are streaming down your face, and your heart and spirit are crushed in anguish - God hears you, and HE will act in your favour in HIS time, when HIS glory will be shown in your situation.
I can almost bet that you or one of your family is struggling right now. Things in life are real hard at the moment, and the spiritual attacks on Christians is ever increasing (adding to our burden). I pray that you take this psalm by King David to heart. Call out to God in your weakness, in your despair and lay all your problems at HIS feet because HE is God, and HE has and always will do things to bless you - even when it seems like HE isn’t near to us at all.
Interestingly enough, the band U2 have a beautiful song called ‘40’ based on parts of this psalm. It always leaves me in tears. Check it out if you want.