November 21, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in some selections from Psalms and Proverbs? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalms 40-41 (NIV)
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
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.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
Both these chapters are sincere pleas for God’s help in times of weakness, trouble, and even betrayal they are reminders that we need to humbly come to the Lord for He can and will deliver us from all of this.
Nothing like the psalms to comfort if sickness has you in its grasp. If David csn speak about waiting patiently to be pulled from a slimy pit, we can also. The blessings that will come are worth the wait. Verse 6. God’s not wanting our religious rituals. When everything is stripped away, you’re all I want. You’re all I ever needed!! Not easy words to sing!! Help me know you are near.!! Great words. Psalm. 41. Not a surprise God often speaks of helping those in need. CAN’T imagine if The Lord puts someone in my path. And I just say, have a good day ! Many blessings for helping those in need. But it should come natural. Actually excite us to help others. Not for the blessings. But to please our Lord!!
It struck me how much stuff David is going through in these Psalms. He mentions illness, enemies slandering him, betrayal by a close friend (For troubles without number surround me) and inner turmoil over his many sins (…more than the hairs of my head). It’s cool that when he speaks of his troubles, and is asking God for his help in them it’s in the present tense. But, when he Praises God for his provision and the help he provided it’s in the past tense. Both a plea for God’s provision for current troubles and praise for God’s accomplished salvation from them.
And of course I’m a child of my generation so I can’t help but have this song stuck in my head whenever I read Psalm 40…
I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He lift me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
Psalms 40-41
Psalms 38-41
What a great pair of Psalms. I am particularly thankful this year that God is able to lift us out of a slimy pit, even one that we have dug for ourselves. He provides a rock of truth to stand on…confident of who He is, who I am in Him and that He loves me and is with me. What else really matters? But God not only helps us deal with the negative, but He gladdens us as well…puts a new song in our hearts and directs to a kingdom and great works that He has done that gives us peace and joy…the very fruit that His Spirit is baring within me/us as well. And what does that lead us to do? It leads us to trust and obey, to follow His ways and make them my own. And we do that even when the problem are many, even when the enemies encircle, even when people or circumstances let us down. He is faithful! He always has been and always will be! He has shown it in the works of His hands and He will show it in His presence with us as well as works in our lives. He deserves everlasting praise and worship!
Oh and 41….if God is the One who rescues us in our weakness, then we should do likewise in our lives for the weak people that we come in contact with. And when we do that, God will bless our lives and provide for us when we find ourselves overwhelmed by the things of life…
David is very balanced. He continually recognizes his own sin before the Lord, his own dependence on God and the wickedness of those set against him and God.
Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let such as love Your salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”
But I am poor and needy;
Yet the Lord thinks upon me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.