Life in the Pits
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Introduction
Introduction
A year ago in May my family and I went on a trip to Freeport/Surfside beach just outside Galveston. The area we were at was literally beach side, the houses were on stilts in order to accommodate the occasional floods and what not. One of the days we were there especially after a couple days of rain we went to the other side to do some crabbing - heard from a local it was a great place to go. Went with my brother-in-law and 8 kids and well the truth is we didnt even get to go crabbing because as we got there in a Nissan 12 passenger van - deciding to drive over some mud we got stuck. Not just slick surface mud either. This mud stole my brother in law’s sandals and made a sick slurping sound as he struggled to walk through. The van was stuck to the axle in mud - wet sloppy saturated mud. My brother in law as he worked to free the van was slipping and sliding and covered in mud. If we could just get some solid ground under the van and if we could just have something solid to stand on we could have worked better to free the van. The Greek philosopher Archimedes said, "Give me a place to stand, and I will move the world". If you have a place to stand, you can get out of the mud and the mire; without a place to stand, without a footing, you will sink in frustration. If you have solid ground, you can be drawn out of the mire and lacking that, your life will sink in impatience and become soiled in frustration.
There is an old (and I mean old) rock group called U2 who wrote a song that really is very closely based on the words of Psalm 40. I must admit I am not a fan of this group. The lyrics of their song go like this:
I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought 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
How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long, how long, how long
How long to sing this song
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and hear
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long, how long, how long
How long to sing this song
That final question leaves me with three thoughts, the question being, “How long to sing this song?” The first thought is this that our new song should be one of praise for what God has done for us, so that many will see and hear the good news of the gospel and also be saved from life as it is without God. Our new song should also reflect on what God is doing presently. And last our song should lead us to plea for fresh deliverance — this is the pattern we see before that David takes as he writes this Psalm here as we turn and look at Psalm 40. Life is always changing and the only constant is that it changes - in moments and very quickly we slip and we slide and we get stuck int he muck and the mire. This Psalm includes two parts, thanksgiving and petition and both must be a part of our song - or we may just end up singing the blues.
A Previous Experience of Deliverance
A Previous Experience of Deliverance
1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help. 2 He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the Lord.
4 How happy is anyone who has put his trust in the Lord and has not turned to the proud or to those who run after lies! 5 Lord my God, you have done many things— your wondrous works and your plans for us; none can compare with you. If I were to report and speak of them, they are more than can be told.
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; see, I do not keep my mouth closed— as you know, Lord. 10 I did not hide your righteousness in my heart; I spoke about your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal your constant love and truth from the great assembly.
As we open this psalm we see David singing this song and reflecting on his previous experience with the LORD. The experience of the LORD delivering him then. David says I waited patiently for the LORD and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. The LORD previously has turned to him and heard his cry and saved or delivered him from his troubles. Troubles described as a desolate pit and muddy clay. A desolate pit could be translated watery pit (a pit hidden because of the water around it — seen some potholes that could fit this description. The muddy clay — we know it as caliche - solid like rock until a storm saturates it with water. Then the solid clay becomes slippery and slimy. Both traps and troubles came from water - most likely from a storm. There’s an old saying “smooth waters means smooth sailing”. It is the rough waters that tests us and reveals who really commands the ship. Two questions come rising up quickly - will our faith stand and can we stand on God’s promises?
What is your watery pit or slimy mud puddle? Each one of us has different ones
Sin - some of us maybe caught in sin and one sin leads easily to other sins until soon we are rolling and sliding in the mud like pigs
Defeat - perhaps caught in personal defeat - school, work, home, a relationship — never finding success in these areas or others
Bad habits - destructive - like addictions and others harmful - short-temper, self-pity, laziness, and even overeating or any overindulgence.
Circumstances - not sins, not defeats, not even bad habits — severe trials perhaps you can relate to Paul persecuted for standing for Christ
24 Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.
26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.
28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.
A new believer has an advantage of fresh faith while a mature Christian has an advantage in of enduring faith. What God has been for us in the past is the promise of what He will be to us in the future - do we recognize what He has been to us previously?
David did - He recognized that God had brought him up from the desolate pit and out of the muddy rock. Circumstances like the above can be a pit for anyone. David recognized that God brought him up and set his feet on solid rock and made his steps secure.
Paul echoed this deliverance from God when he said in 2 Cor 4:8-9
8 We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.
Though God may not change the circumstances in certain situations (Paul’s example above) God still provides the solid ground to stand on so we are not sinking in the mud or falling into the water pit unseen below.
David’s deliverance by the LORD gave him something - a new song a hymn of praise. When God rescues, or delivers or acts on our behalf in anyway it should produce naturally within us praise to God. Not only praise but also witness and testimony. David says many will see and fear and they will trust the LORD. What shall many see God’s rescue. Why you may ask did God allow us to get in the mud and get bogged down, one reason is testimony - for you personally and then for others as well. People turn to the LORD when they see not how we have it put together and great we are, but when they look at us and where we are and realize it MUST be God and they begin to see if God can save them maybe He can rescue me too.
How long to sing this song? Sing until the whole world hears — our worship leads others to God and then when they come to God like David they discover How happy is anyone who puts their trust in the LORD. Do not be an Eeyore Christian! The joy of the LORD is our strength and it si a joy He gives us that no one can take - but we can give it up if we allow our pits and mire to take it from us.
5 David and the whole house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all kinds of fir wood instruments, lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.
14 David was dancing with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod. 15 He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of the ram’s horn.
How long to sing this song? Always we will never run out of this song. Verse 5 tells us LORD my God you have done many things — many things. God has done many things for us just within the last hour. His wondrous works and plans for us. They are more than be told - usually we lack things to sing about and praise God about because we overlook, ignore and discount the things He has done and continues to do for us all day everyday.
The previous deliverance from the LORD should always be on our lips as it was with David. How long shall we sing this song? Eternity! I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly. David says I do not keep my mouth closed, I do not hide your righteousness and I did not conceal your constant love and truth from the great assembly. A faithful testimony is the song of previous delivery.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
The one who has truly been delivered by God and finds solid ground in Him and His Word our mouths cannot contain it, we must proclaim it. If you can contain and hold in what God has done for you in your life then you do not think much of what God has done for you.
Plea And Praise For Future Deliverance
Plea And Praise For Future Deliverance
11 Lord, you do not withhold your compassion from me. Your constant love and truth will always guard me. 12 For troubles without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my courage leaves me. 13 Lord, be pleased to rescue me; hurry to help me, Lord.
14 Let those who intend to take my life be disgraced and confounded. Let those who wish me harm be turned back and humiliated. 15 Let those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled because of their shame.
David recalls his previous deliverance to remember that the LORD does not withhold His compassion and that His constant love and truth will always guard him. This is important to David to remember and why does he remember? The song of the LORD’s deliverance and rescue is always on his lips. It is important to remember because as I said life’s only constant is that it changes. You may be out of the mud or watery pit today but what about tomorrow, later today next five minutes? David found himself in a spot once again and because He remembered the LORD’s faithfulness previously he again comes to the LORD in faith for his troubles.
Troubles without number surrounding him, and his iniquities over taking him and literally submerging him to where he cannot see. The sheer number of them is more than the hairs on his head. With this pile of troubles and iniquities it is understandable when we read David say my courage leaves me - in fact we can relate with David if we are honest.
David simply calls out - LORD be pleased to rescue me and hurry to help me. David is describing an exhaustion of suffering and his only place of turning was to the LORD. When we continue to remember what the LORD has done for us previously when we turned to Him we will continue to remember to turn to Him.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The prayer of David is for the LORD to in his present problem facing enemies to take their smugness and wipe it off their faces. They would be disgraced, and confounded. Those who desire to harm him would be pushed away in humiliation. Those who would declare “aha!” as though they discovered something to use to discredit, disqualify or to falsely accuse would instead be appalled because of their own shame.
16 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation continually say, “The Lord is great!” 17 I am oppressed and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and my deliverer; my God, do not delay.
David’s motivation in praise and in prayer is that the LORD be glorified. Those who seek the LORD will find gladness in Him and those who love His salvation will be praising Him and declaring His greatness. Great Are YOU LORD! David never forgets his humble position before the LORD and his humble dependence upon the LORD. He declares I am oppressed (poor and wretched) and needy. Can you humble yourself and admit that you are poor,wretched and needy, and that the LORD is your Helper and Deliverer? If you cannot admit your wretched and needy state then God is not your Deliverer. God does not help those who help themselves, God helps those who admit they are helpless, hapless, hopeless without Him.
Present Reflection
Present Reflection
6 You do not delight in sacrifice and offering; you open my ears to listen. You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering. 7 Then I said, “See, I have come; in the scroll it is written about me. 8 I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me.”
David in the middle of the Psalm breaks into a reflective moment. Reflecting not of the past or of the future, but this reflection is on relationship - his present relationship with God. Trust requires relationship, without relationship there is no trust. Relationship cannot be established on mere ceremony but rather requires a willfully surrendered heart. David acknowledges that God’s delight is not found in sacrifice and offering - only. He also stipulates that you open my ears to listen and this phrase has confounded meaning in it.
Obedience over sacrifice summed up in the expression of opening my ears to listen. The Septuagint paraphrases this verse - the word opened, pierced or dug. Older commentators take the meaning back to Exodus 21 - the willing slave who would have their ear pierced with an awl. Context fits but ears is plural - perhaps the meaning is more?
Today almost all commentators consider the word to be opened up. This also fits the context and not only that the message is written now on the scroll but also on the heart of the psalmist. Seems to be referring to the new covenant and the focus on the heart.
Jeremiah prophesied the coming of a new covenant, saying in Jeremiah 31:33
33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
To Jeremiah, having the law in our hearts is a proper definition of what it means to be in a right relationship to God.
Jesus, too, had much to say about the heart
Matthew 13:15
15 For this people’s heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back— and I would heal them.
How many people, even Christians, have plugged ears that need to be opened up. Or to put it in other terms, how many hear with their ears only but do not hear with their hearts! They can’t hear anything anyone, even God, says to them. As a result they do not know the blessing of God this psalm speaks of, nor the deliverance from the pits of sin, defeat, bad habits, or circumstances.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The truth is when we think about it we realize and we remember that our deliverance from the pit and the mire and clay comes from waiting upon God - like David patiently waiting upon the LORD
What is the fruit of God’s Deliverance?
Songs of Praise - How long shall we sing them? Forever
Hopeful Expectation - Happy - not passing but abiding happiness for the one who trusts the LORD
Settled Conviction - no need to find proud others who spew lies only
Witness and Testimony for others
The full intent of David’s attack upon the sacrifices is that they are not adequate to procure eternal salvation for us.
4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
It is He who comes to do the will of God. Jesus in offering Himself for sin, once for all, He simultaneously fulfills and abolishes the Old Testament sacrificial system. Thus verse 7, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, speaks of Christ and pours ultimate meaning into verses 5–8. God does desire sacrifice, except that it must be sacrifice from the heart. Yet all sacrifices are limited, and God therefore fulfills His own desire (and demand) by giving His Son as the perfect sacrifice for sin. This is promised in the Old Testament, “the scroll of the book,” and fulfilled in Christ who delighted to “do” the Father’s “will” and who had His “law” perfectly written on His “heart.” Thus our worship is fulfilled in Christ who writes God’s law upon our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Verses 6–8 take on a greater significance when cited in Hebrews 10:5–7 where the writer contrasted Christ’s perfect obedience with the insufficiency of the Mosaic sacrifices.
5 Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said: You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. 6 You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. 7 Then I said, “See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, God.”
8 After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), 9 he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second.
10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.