FIRM GROUND
Opening Prayer
Lord, I come to You with all my doubts and fears. I trust in You.
Read Psalm 40
Psalm 40[a]
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
and put their trust in him.
4 Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.[b]
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
but my ears you have opened[c]—
burnt offerings and sin offerings[d] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.[e]
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.
14 May all who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”
17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
you are my God, do not delay.
Footnotes:
a Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
b Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
c Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
d Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
e Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Who is ever fully immune to uncertainties, or secure from hardships? David’s testimony here is sure to encourage you.As you read this psalm, the transition from celebration to requests in verse 11 stands out. David’s starting point is vivid. Have you ever walked through a deep, sticky bog? Remember the relief you felt when you finally reached solid ground? God’s faithfulness is that solid ground for David. He also invites us to see how our proper confidence in God starts in the heart and flows out in our voices and choices (8,10).
In the second half of the psalm, David acknowledges the stubborn fears and doubts common to life. Personal sin erodes our certainties about God’s character. The only solution is to call on God to restore our vision of his greatness. But it’s not something we achieve on our own. David notes the counterpoint voices of life. Discouraging skeptics are present in every setting, ready to challenge faith by calling out “Aha! Aha!” whenever we stumble (15). Do these people distract us from seeing God’s character? The solution is to engage God—to always cry out, “You are my God, do not delay” (17).
Apply
Think of places in life that feel like a deep, muddy bog. We find ourselves unable to move forward. Yet when we call to God for help he responds in love and draws us to safety.
Closing prayer
Lord, help me to wait patiently for You.
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