They will let you down. 7:21-26; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Matt. You dont need a Savior unless you are helpless at the bottom of a slimy pit. So when youre in the pit, wait intently on the Lord. Psalm 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.. The psalmist so fully expresses his commitment to the Lord that the words become prophetic of the same commitment of the Messiah (Heb. The poet wants us to take this life seriously, to win this battle of life like a hero. Note the emphases on proper spiritual prerequisites for sacrifices (in Psalms 19:14; 50:7-15; 51:15-17; 69:30-31; Isa. 3:2; 4:15; 1 Kings 14:4; compare Psalm 6:7). Beyond this, from the vantage point of New Testament revelation, an association with the Greater David is contained in seed form (in verses 6-8; compare Heb. Partly by giving me new matter or occasion for a song; and partly by inspiring me with the very words of it. From Isaiah 40:11 to Psalm 100:3 to John 10:1-18, sheep are portrayed as slightly defenseless. So waiting on the Lord is not just a passive biding your time. The NIV Application Commentary offers fantastic background to the meaning of instruments in Psalms. He also pointed to Gods desire for a relationship with humans. Q. Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive language to create a mental snapshot for the reader. By seeking the Lord alone, when the Lord answers, He gets the credit. That is, they seek to kill me; they would take my life before the full time is come. Hands and heart represent the whole of ones life. You can tell from the two ahas, that they felt that through their wit they have destroyed Him. When youre in the pit, wait intently on the Lord and proclaim His goodness when He answers. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.. 16:7-9). Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but Gods kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Psalm Good actions are not what God is looking for. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. Its the worst of all pits to be in! January 2021 Of one who had no resource but in God, and who was passing through scenes of poverty and sorrow. In the fulfilment of which the lovingkindness, truth, and faithfulness of God, would appear. The devil will tempt us to give up trusting in the Lord and to seek fulfillment in other ways. For pardon, righteousness, communion, larger measures of grace, and for honor, glory, immortality, and eternal life. Now the writer of Hebrews explains what it means for Christ to fulfill Gods will (covenant). He brought me up out of a horrible pit, and set my feet on the _______. The late Supreme Court Justice, Louis Brandeis, said to his frustrated, impatient daughter, My dear, if you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. (Source unknown. Easter David expresses in this, that he had so many iniquities, it even kept him from looking up. 12:1-2). Shall put their trust in him and shall become his true worshippers and friends. There was no more need for sacrifice, Jesus paid it all. Jesus cried out unto the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, and God heard His cry. Theyre like the guy I mentioned last week, who saw himself as a good sinner. Good sinners may admit that they need a little assistance now and then, but they dont need a Savior. Probably it was a Psalm that they sang together. The imagery indicates that the Lord rescued David from his enemies and provided security for him. We have previously noticed in these psalms of David that we must draw near to God for God to draw near to us. And heard my cry: The cry or supplication which I made for help. The lesson is, it is always wrong to trust in anything or anyone other than the Lord to get out of your pit, even if it works. We see in this, the beautiful assurance that the Lords lovingkindness and truth are not withheld from us, when we seek them. If you fell into a pit whose walls and bottom were mud, you would be in big trouble! Constant situational awareness. Psalm 40 is primarily a psalm of thanksgiving, although it does include petition toward the end as well. Keeping this in mind can certainly help us get through the times when we are in the slimy pit. Verse 12 shows the connection: For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. just a few moments later, Jesus commanded His Spirit to Go to the Father. 3:12), many that profess to know Christ stumble and fall away when they get hit with various trials. 1. May 2022 It gets on your shoes and you cant walk. Verse 5 concludes, they would be too many to declare.. Therefore my heart faileth me: Margin, as in Hebrew: forsaketh. The idea is that he sank under these sufferings; he could not sustain them. The incarnation of Christ being a wonderful affair, and of the utmost importance. If Christ liveth in me, the _____ of _____ is in my heart. Therefore, either David was prophesying and not speaking of himself in psalm 40, or the writer of Hebrews by inspiration applies Davids words to Christ also. We can find ourselves caught in the muddiness of sin. And with the explication thereof in the New Testament, (in which those mysteries which were darkly and doubtfully expressed in the Old Testament are fully and clearly revealed), must be set apart to Christ. A new song (see note on Psalm 33:3). 40:6) is literally, My ears You have dug. It has wrongly been interpreted to refer to the masters piercing the servants ear with an awl (a different Hebrew word; Exod. As used here, it refers to their purposes, and the wish or prayer is that they might be wholly unsuccessful. In the volume of the book it is written of me: Either in the book of divine predestination, in the purposes and decrees of God (Psalm 139:16). If youre going to persevere with Christ, you must know in advance that you will face times when you are in the pit, and you must know what to do when youre there. In quoting psalm 40, the writer of Hebrews has made two important points. What He has promised, He will do. The new persons God created (II Cor. Maundy Thursday Im doomed! you will either panic or turn to the world for help. Ask, and it shall be given you. The idea is, that his prayer was not answered at once, but that it was answered after he had made repeated prayers. Which are no other than lies. I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart., The thought of verses 6-8 in the context is (I am following J. J. S. Perowne, The Book of Psalms [Zondervan], p. 335), My heart is full of Your abundant goodness towards me. 15:22-23). 2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the [ b]miry clay, And He set my feet upon a high rock, He established my steps. God always hears the prayers of His own. What happened to the soldiers, when Jesus answered them (I am He)? Make no tarrying, O our God: But come, Lord Jesus, come quickly (Rev. 01:26:40. Or the salvation he is the author of, which is loved by those that know it. Let all those that seek thee in the first place, with their whole hearts be glad in thee. How can we determine the balance between trusting completely in the Lord versus using legitimate means or methods? He said the truth, when he said, Lord thou knowest. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. How imagery has been used in literature, movies, songs, and everyday speech. I agree with David, if I were to name off all the things the Lord has done for me, there would not be time to do any more Bible studies. Mine ears hast thou opened: Literally ears or two ears You have dug for me. It matters little who does forsake us, if he does not. All this would have been defeated if, before that time came, he had been put to death by stoning, or in any of the numerous ways in which his life was threatened. Psalms 40 Actually, it is the number that your angels are sending to you in order to tell you something that could be very important. Body Next: Psalm 41, Have Mercy on Me, West Palm Beach church of Christ4236 Haverhill RoadWest Palm Beach, FL 33417, Sunday Services9:30 am / 10:30 am & 6:30 pm. We can look back at them and say how bad they were, but in all reality, you and I had just as much to do with His crucifixion as they did. Crucial associations surface throughout this psalm. Psalm 40:1-3 have been used by many songwriters over the years as the basis for their own praise because of its imagery of sinking helplessly into a pit of mud.1. His petition is a plea for deliverance from his enemies, but it is wider than that. Or he turned himself favorably toward me, as the result of persevering prayer. Many times we must deal with the pits of sin. Psalm 40 Commentary - Explaining the Book In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 39 . In Psalm 40:7-10 David shifted to himself, recounting the things that he had done for God. David is speaking in the verse, but the verse is probably prophetic in speaking of the great patience of our Lord Jesus in the preceding paragraph. Shalom It falls into two sections. In the first half (40:1-10), David tells how God got him out of one pit and he sings Gods praise for doing so. But he did not then live happily ever after. Rather, it is evident from the second half of the psalm (40:11-17) that he is in another pit, crying out to the Lord to deliver him from this one. Yet Ryries Notes Say Otherwise. God established the earth so that it is hospitable for us to live here. I heard recently that a meteorite came uncomfortably close to earth. Emmanuel A telescope takes what looks like a tiny object in the night sky and magnifies it so that we get some idea of how awesome it really is. (See notes on Psalms 35:4; 35:26). As David waits on the Lord, he thinks about who God is and what He has done. Without a telescope, people either ignore the stars or maybe look up and think, Twinkle, twinkle little star. Little star? as well. beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they Love A Psalm of David. Many of them, moreover, are secret, and escape our notice. But it would be far more applicable to the circumstances in which the Redeemer was placed. Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the sensational and emotional experience within text. Some think that it was Davids enemies, while others think that it could have been physical illness or some deep emotional distress. Jesus had no iniquities. Though one deliverance is just effected (verse 2), it is not enough; something more is required. Go to the Previous Section | Go to Next Section, Other Books of the Bible (This takes you to our new 66 books of the bible menu). It is a pleasure, not a chore, to do the will of the Lord. In himself, the essential Word, in whom there is always grounds and reason for joy and gladness; because of his person, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice. And on the way in which such objection may be met, see (psalm 40:3b). All ____________ in the Lord preach righteousness to the unsaved world. Great things can happen in our lives when we put our trust in the Lord. We have been on His mind from the beginning. He enabled them to conquer the powerful Canaanite nations and occupy the Promised Land. This is the point Paul made in Ephesians 2:5 when he told those Christians by grace you have been saved. Paul said it again to the Ephesians three verses later in Ephesians 2:8, For by grace you have been saved through faith. It means finding God as our eternal treasure, so that we rejoice in all that He is, as well as in all that He does for us. Neighbor Seek, and ye shall find., Psalm 40:12 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.. They dwarf our own sun, making it look like a speck of dust by comparison! Praise and worship songs prepare the heart to receive the sermon. Abolish the first what and establish the second what? But the sacrifice of Jesus Christ removes our sins and our guilt away from us. David not only told everyone he saw about God and His goodness, but he even wrote these Psalms proclaiming to all future generations the goodness of the Lord. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. Membership And shall trust in the Lord: Shall confide in God. September 2021 Horrible pit the miry clay: The imagery describes his past hopeless and helpless situation; compare the language of (Psalm. He is the subject of the wheel within the wheel. Compare the psalmists pleasant frustration (in Psalm 139:12-18). He can be the replacement to help us overcome our destructive habits. Righteousness When you need them the most, they will let you down. Rejoice and be glad in thee: As their covenant God, the Father of their mercies, the God of all comfort and salvation. WebImagery is a literary element that provides vivid, detailed descriptions and communicates a specific perception of an object or scene to a reader. Gods timing often does not coincide with our timing. November 2022 Words, therefore, are insufficient; and some better return than mere words must be found. The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete March 2022 In verse 1, David mentions his cry, which may have been as simple as, Help, Lord! In verse 13, he directly cries out, Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; make haste, O Lord, to help me. In verse 17, he repeats, Since I am afflicted and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me. Imagery can be literal or figurative. Let us never take for granted the salvation we have in the Lord. The first is between the theocratic king as an individual and the community of the theocratic people. Many times one sin leads to another sin and we have great difficulty trying to extract ourselves from the mire. I have said before that possibly, that is why the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. 40:6-8 predicts). Why should we have praise, and worship music, and song before preaching? Learn how to talk about despair because of our sins. In the poem, the poet has presented an image of a broad battlefield and an image of a bivouac, a temporary camp for soldiers. Verses 1-17: Psalm 40 begins with a high-flight of thanksgiving and ends with a mixture of prayer and lament (compare the movement of Psalm 27). Say continually, the Lord be magnified: i.e., Give them constant occasion to say, and give them the grateful heart to say, The Lord be praised for his mercies (compare Psalm 35:27). Psalm 40: The poles of thanksgiving and lament are so distinct in this psalm that some divide it into two separate psalms. Imagery includes using personification, similes, metaphors, and language that appeals to the senses. In verse 5, he extols God for His many wonders and His thoughts towards us. Aha, aha: The exclamation of malicious pleasure at anothers misfortune (compare Psalms 35:21; 35:25). There may be an allusion here to Absaloms end, which was probably followed by a certain number of executions. Davids psalms furnish a running commentary on these statements. Specifically, David showedhow God blesses those who serve him faithfully. 22:20). Psalm 40:1-3 have been used by many songwriters over the years as the basis for their own praise because of its imagery of sinking helplessly into a pit of mud. 5. John 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground., Psalm 40:15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.. David loved nothing more than to speak and sing of God in the great assembly.. This psalm is simply titled To the Chief Musician. The taking of his life at any time before the full period had arrived, or in any other way than that in which he had purposed to lay it down, would have been a defeat of his work, since in the plan of salvation it was contemplated that he should die at a certain time, and in a certain manner. Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; my ears You have opened; burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. For these psalmists, Zion That Ps 46 makes use of the mythic imagery of the primeval, chaotic waters in presenting a battle between Yahweh and his adversaries has He sent His Son to offer Himself obediently on the cross on our behalf (as Ps. Psalm 40 continues to describe the despair David feels as the result of his own April 2022 Which was to die, and that a most shameful, and painful, and cursed death (see Luke 12:50; John 10:18; Heb. Asas final days were plagued with painful gout. He is the Rock that the builders rejected. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false (Psalm 24:4). December 2021 Do Those Who Commit Suicide Go To Hell? Psalm 40 is a song about the pits. Historical precedent and prayers for a present plight move the psalm along from beginning to end. Either by weeping, or by the mere pressure of suffering, he was so affected as to be almost deprived of the power of seeing. Or when it seemed as if his prayers would not be answered. Blakes The supplicatory portion of the psalm here commences. WebWe are Imagry, an autonomous technologies software provider, and we have created a mapless autonomous driving solution. It is through this second will (covenant) that we are sanctified (made holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. And when God did rescue him, David made sure that God got all the praise. December 2022 Why was he tempted. As always, David was weighed down with the knowledge of his own sinfulness. Vision-based. Do ungodly methods sometimes work? This idea of innocence leads naturally into the lament and petition section of the psalm (verses 11-17). Second, these acts toward God are not the full requirements of God, according to verse 6. He can change our circumstances. 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