http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2026,%2040,%2058,%2061-62,%2064&version=NIV
Psalm 40 is a great Psalm that speaks of the Lord's deliverance for one who is in trouble and despair.
David writes that he waited patiently on the Lord. The Net Bible translates the word patiently in this verse as to rely completely on the Lord. And the Lord heard David's cry.
What comes next is just glorious. The Lord rescued David from the slimy pit, and out of the mud and mire, and set his feet on a rock and gave him a firm place to stand. How great is that!!!
You may be asking what was the problem that David had. Well, we really don't know. And you know this is a good thing that we do not know. Because if we knew, we more than likely would just apply this psalm to that particular problem.
This is sort of similar to the thorn in Paul's flesh (See 2 Corinthians 12:1-10). We don't know what his thorn was related to. Often you hear Christians saying perhaps this or that problem in their lives are their own thorns in the flesh. And they could be right. Because Scripture does not specifically mention the problem in both of the cases above, it leads one to believe that these verses are meant to be applied to the lives of all believers.
When a believer has a problem, wait patiently and rely completely on the Lord. He will deliver you to a rock and a firm place to stand. His grace is sufficient for you.
Only when we realize that we are so utterly weak, and dependent on the Lord, can we even begin to have a faith that is as strong as David's or Paul's and will we be able to take the hits that this world is sure to strike us with.
In verse 4 of Psalm 40, David writes, "Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods."
Our society is such an idolatrous one. People idolize money, sex, power, ambition, relationships, and good works. They place their trust in them. We too can fall in this trap. When we buy into the culture. Our trust is to be in God and God alone.
Some may say that they have no problems or the last 5 years have been good to them. Praise the Lord for that. But there will be a day when you get knocked in the teeth, if not literally then figuratively. We all will have troubles and trials in this life.
Acts 13:22 states, "....We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,..."
Pray to God and give thanks for your blessings if all is well in your life now. And pray that He would use this time of blessing in your life to strengthen you and prepare you for the day of trial and tribulation that each of us will experience in our lives.
For those who are going through troubles right now, cry out to the Lord and rely on Him and wait patiently for Him. Make Him your trust. He will deliver you.
And for both groups, desire what David desired.
"I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." Psalm (40:8)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
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good word, yeah we usually don't claim verses like this one! :)
ReplyDeleteActs 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
The word staes we can glory in tribuations. (Rom. 3) Talking about the opposite of human nature. My response is usually self-pity, dispair or worse...complaining and murmuring.
But to glory in our times of troubles is something we can learn to do. We praise God, we thank God and we confess He is faithful who called who also will perform it. We can look through the eyes of faith and have totally, 100 percent victory in our minds and emotions knowing our Lord is at work and He is doing something in our spirit which will last for all eternity. Our circumstances might not be lined up yet but our spirit can be. I'm finding out our Lord is much more concerned about the work in us that will last for eternity than some tmeporal pleasure I might be denied of now.
It's not always fun but it sure is good