"Thankful For God's Salvation"

Introduction: This Psalm is a song and it is much like Psalm 27 which is composed of two different sections. The first section which comes to us from verses 1-10 show us just how thankful the Psalmist is for God’s salvation. On the back half of this Psalm which includes verses 11-17 we see an individual lament or prayer for God to deliver and protect the Psalmist and his people, the nation of Israel.

This song here from David to God is a beautiful song because it is pointing us to David’s greater son who was to come in that of Christ Jesus. The author of Hebrews explains Psalm 40:6-8 in this way.

Hebrews 10:5–7 ESV

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ”

This is referring to the instructions for Israel’s kings in Deuteronomy chapter 17 and the lesser David. But there was a greater David who was to come and that was Christ who took delight to do His Father’s will and became obedient even to the death of the cross. Because of Christ’s sacrifice there were no more partial sacrifices, there has now been a once and for all sacrifice for our sin. Today we as believers can take joy in the fact and be forevermore thankful for God’s salvation through His Son Jesus who is the greater son of David and Son of God.

Church, today we have many reasons to thank the Lord for His mighty salvation. Because of His deliverance from sin we have eternal life, we have wonderful things to look forward too, because we will be with Christ forever. We will have no more hardships, no more death, no more pain, no more sick bodies but only eternal joy. So, we have many reasons today to be thankful for God’s salvation.

1. As we wait on the Lord we can be thankful for God’s salvation.

Psalm 40:1–3 ESV

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.

Waiting is a part of life. Wait on a plane, waiting on doctors, waiting in lines. There are times where we must wait. We know that something difficult has happened to David as he desires to be brought out of the pit and he is remembering what it has been like as he has waited on God for God’s rescue and salvation. David is persevering through prayer in humble submission to his sovereign God. David knows that ultimately God is in control and will do whatever He thinks is best for David. The question that so many of us struggle with here is that how can we be certain that the Lord will hear us when we call out to Him?

Verse 1 tells us that we will hear when God calls to us because David says that God turned to him. David called out to the Lord and the Lord heard his cry. Pastor Adrian Rodgers once said, “God is never early and He is never late, He is always on time.” In other words, you need to know that God does hear you when you call out to Him. We also know that God will help us when we are discouraged. Verse 2 explains to us that God brought David out of a place of hopelessness and despair. In fact, the Lord made David’s steps secure. How so? Because the Lord was David’s firm foundation and gave him direction and guidance. For those who are believers, God gives His help. One other thing that we need to see here in verse 3 is that God honors those who praise Him. Instead of defeat, the Lord gives David victory. He promises this to David and God puts his feet securely on a rock. David is now able to renew his praise to God.

We see this when we worship the Lord wether privately or corporately. When we sing and lift our voices and praise God for His salvation and His protection, we come to a place where we fear God and trust Him. This brings honor and glory to God and shows how truly thankful we are for God’s salvation.

2. When we put our confidence in God we can be thankful for His Salvation.

Psalm 40:4–5 ESV

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.

David does a wonderful job of encouraging his people here. David instructs his people to understand that they are not to put their confidence in human strength or turn to idolatrous things. It is so easy in our day and age to turn to the lies of this world that tell us to trust in human leaders and worldly ungodly things to give us confidence. But, David understood that their trust (Israel) and David’s trust must be in God.

1 John 5:20 ESV

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

The wonderful and mighty acts of God’s deliverance and salvation for His people are things that God has planned for them. We see this in verse 5, “Your thoughts toward us.” The mighty acts of God are too numerous to count, and none can compare to all the Lord does for His children. Think about this with me church. The past is full of God’s blessings. The present shows us that God is still in control and cares for His people and the future is abundant with God’s plans. We know how it all ends. Jesus will return and we will be with Him for all eternity. So, Today we see the wonderful blessings of those who trust in God. We can trust God with confidence and count on Him in every moment of this life.

3. When we delight in God we understand what His salvation means.

Psalm 40:6–8 ESV

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.”

One of the things that David the King would have done before going out to battle was to present his offering to God in order to atone for the sins of him and his people. He had offered up fellowship offerings to God with anticipation of God’s salvation. Of course David was aware that his God was not pleased with just a mere sacrifice because of what happened with King Saul. David understood that this was all about the heart and making sure his heart was in the right place of true obedience.

When we have a desire to obey and fully commit our lives to the Lord our ears are open to listen and follow God and this is exactly what David is saying in verse 6. David has heard with his ears what God has required of the King. David has committed his life to doing God’s will. The mention of an open ear here is a picture of obedience and dedication to the Lord.

Someone else who was committed to doing the Father’s will was Christ. Everything about the Lord’s ministry while he was here on earth was pointing people to know that He was here to do His Father’s will including going to the cross for our sin. This is what Christ desires for us as believers. He wants you and I to die to our sin and make the sacrifice daily to follow the Lord and be obedient to His will. When God has our hearts and minds and ears then we are listening to God’s instructions for our life.

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

4. When we share the Lord with others we are declaring how thankful we are for God’s salvation.

Psalm 40:9–10 ESV

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.

David has experienced God’s salvation and we see this clearly in verse 10. David cannot be silent about how his God has rescued and delivered over and over again. David must tell others about God and how mighty and powerful God truly is. There are two major things that David wants to share about his Lord.

-The first thing David wants to share is how his God is Righteous. The salvation of God is righteous. David is saying here that I am proclaiming God’s righteous acts in the great assembly of His people. God has put a new song in David’s heart and he is now proclaiming that for all the people to hear. David wants Israel to know that God is a God who saves, delivers, redeems, and rescues. Those who truly surrender their lives to Him and trust in Him will see God’s wondrous works and they can tell others about God’s righteous acts of salvation too.

-The second thing David wants to share in how God is Faithful. Now David declares in verse 10 four wonderful attributes of the Lord. David begins with how God is faithful. In other words, David is proclaiming his God is dependable, and a constant support. David is also proclaiming God’s salvation, God’s constant love, and that God is truth. David is not going to remain silent about this good news. He will share this news with his people and so must we church. We have been given the good news of the gospel and we must share this news with those lost people around us.

5. When we share our burdens with God we understand just how much we need God’s salvation.

Psalm 40:11–15 ESV

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!”

What is so interesting here is that we see how David’s tone now changes. It seems as if there is a new problem or danger that has once again returned to David’s life. As David has come to learn, even with God’s deliverance and protection in his life there were still evil enemies all around who were constantly trying to come against David, his people and his God.

-David is now asking for God’s presence in his life. We see this clearly in verses 11-12.

-We also see that David is asking for God’s protection when he is attacked. We see this in verses 13-15.

David is at a place where he knows just how much he needs his God to intercede for him and to hear his prayers. David asks God to shame his enemies and to confuse them or confound them. David realizes that all these enemies want to do is take his life and come against him so he asks of God for justice and what is right. God you alone are sovereign and in control and I trust you to hear me. Do we trust God like this?

6. When we rejoice in God we can take joy in our salvation.

Psalm 40:16–17 ESV

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!

One of the great things that David understands here is just how mighty his God truly is. David understand that God is a God of salvation, faithful and true. While David and his people are oppressed and needy. This is a picture of us today. We need God. Do you realize today just how much you need God? When we truly come to a place where we recognize this we can rejoice in the Lord and what he has done for us. You may be here and say well why should I rejoice. Let me give you 2 specific reasons that we see here from our text.

-First of all we can rejoice because we remember that Christ is our Savior. We see this in verse 16.

-The other reason we can rejoice is because we remember that Christ is our Deliverer. He has delivered us from sin and death. We see this in verse 17.

Conclusion: Psalm 40 gives us a reason to praise God because it points us to Christ. Yes there will come days when we wait on God, when we find ourselves in the pit crying out to God. So be reminded today that God does hear our prayers and He answers us. Will you trust in God today? Will you seek the Lord and fear Him? Will you delight in following Him? Church, we have so many reasons to give God praise and to be thankful for His Saving Works.