Christian Confidence: Waiting on the Lord

Introduction

English Standard Version (Psalm 40)

40 TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID.

1  I waited patiently for the LORD;he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2  He drew me up from the pit of destruction,out of the miry bog,and set my feet upon a rock,making my steps secure.

3  He put a new song in my mouth,a song of praise to our God.Many will see and fear,and put their trust in the LORD.

4  Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,who does not turn to the proud,to those who go astray after a lie!

5  You have multiplied, O LORD my God,your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;none can compare with you!I will proclaim and tell of them,yet they are more than can be told.

6  In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,but you have given me an open ear.Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

7  Then I said, “Behold, I have come;in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8  I delight to do your will, O my God;your law is within my heart.”

9  I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation;behold, I have not restrained my lips,as you know, O LORD.

10  I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

11  As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me;your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!

12  For evils have encompassed me beyond number;my iniquities have overtaken me,and I cannot see;they are more than the hairs of my head;my heart fails me.

13  Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!O LORD, make haste to help me!

14  Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life;let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!

15  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16  But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!”

17  As for me, I am poor and needy,but the Lord takes thought for me.You are my help and my deliverer;do not delay, O my God!

MAIN IDEA: In the face of difficultly, Christians wait in confidence, and worship in salvation! again, In the face of difficultly, Christians wait in confidence, and worship in salvation!

Scene 1: Personal Testimony

TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID.

1  I waited patiently for the LORD;he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2  He drew me up from the pit of destruction,out of the miry bog,and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

3  He put a new song in my mouth,a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear,and put their trust in the LORD.

Explanation:

He waited Patiently

The Lord Responded

Saved david from his present issues

Secured him on a foundation and on a solid path

Supplied his with a means to describe what he experienced, namely praise

Scene 2: Communal Exhortation

4  Blessed is the man who makes

the LORD his trust,

who does not turn to the proud,

to those who go astray after a lie!

5  You have multiplied, O LORD my God,

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,

yet they are more than can be told.

Explanation:

David moves from his personal testimony to a public Exhortation

First is the condition of a man who places his full trust in the Lord, namely that man is blessed

Second is the disposition of God toward men, namely multiplied blessings

Point 3: Dedication and Proclamation

6  In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

7  Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8  I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

9  I have told the glad news of deliverance

in the great congregation;

behold, I have not restrained my lips,

as you know, O LORD.

10  I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness

from the great congregation.

Explanation:

Miracle- The reality of the more perfect sacrifice

Message- Salvation and steadfast love are found in the Lord

Point 4:

11  As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me;your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!

12  For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.

13  Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!O LORD, make haste to help me!

14  Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life;let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!

15  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16  But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!”

17  As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

Explanation:

There are very REAL and Present issues in Davids life

External: Enemies and demonic attacks

Internal: Sinful desires and actions

Davids response will be the same! Call out to God and Wait

Do so with confidence, knowing we serve a God who hears and will respond.

Conclusion

In the face of difficultly, Christians wait in confidence, and worship in salvation!