Daily Devotion of Psalm 40

Daily Nugget:
This Psalm, as do many other Psalms, talks much about the then future coming of Christ. However, I dare not pass over the great connection of what David wrote about and my and others salvation.

When I, and again so many others, got to the point that we knew there was no good in us and the guilt of our sins burdened us so, we prayed to the Lord for relief. Although so undeserving, the great, Holy God in Heaven heard our cries (vs. 1).

God did not just hear our call for help. He met our needs and changed our lives. When we had no hope of having a better life or seeing a promising future, He pulled us out of the sinking existence (“horrible pit” and “miry clay”) we had allowed ourselves (vs. 2) to wander into. He transformed our lives to ones that were based on His love and truths. The new direction His way led us was rock solid (Vs. 2) and will never let us down.

The new persons God created (II Cor.. 5:17) in His believers have a new direction and joy. Instead of living a life with no eternal future, no hope, and no clear leadership, a saved person has God promises of a future with Him in Heaven, godly guidance in this life, and peace even through life’s storms. A born-again child of God certainly has a “new song” (vs. 3) that his heart “sings.”

When the saved person decides to flee the deception and destruction the world offers and trusts the direction the Lord desires him to go, the Christ-follower will be blessed. Since I have been saved rarely are the days I have not seen the blessings of God (vs.4). God is worthy of being relied upon. He has raised billions of children and certainly knows the best way they should be reared. We do not. We need His help.

God certainly has done wonderful things in the lives (vs. 5) of His followers. As the paraphrased words of a song go, “He treats me like I am His only child,” although we, of course, are not his only children. Millions of other believers will also confess a similar feeling. He takes care of His own, and there is no way to count all the “wonderful works” He has done in His believer’s lives.

It may have been a hard decision for most to let go of what the world offers and follow God’s way, especially when it is often mocked and ignored by the majority, but living God’s way and obeying His commandments and principles is the best way. None of us are worthy of such great goodness He showers on His own, but living the Christian life is worth it all. One is missing such a treasure and blessing if they reject God’s salvation and do not follow His way.

Today’s Thought: 
“What we mean by salvation is this-deliverance from the love of sin, rescue from the habit of sin, setting free from the desire to sin.” — Spurgeon

Words to Understand:
Desolate: deprived
Innumerable: too many to be counted
Mercies: Kindness given to a person no matter what they have done
Miry: filthy
Pit: a man-made hole

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.