Rescued

PSALM 40

RESCUED

INTRODUCTION:

JIM BUTCHER - I AM REALLY STRUCK BY THE LYRICS OF LAUREN DAIGLE’S RECENT SONG “RESCUE.”

THE SINGER IS SPEAKING FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE AND SAYS:

“I HEAR THE WHISPER UNDERNEATH YOUR BREATH

I HEAR YOU WHISPER, YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT

I WILL SEND OUT AN ARMY TO FIND YOU

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DARKEST NIGHT

IT’S TRUE, I WILL RESCUE YOU”

I REALLY LOVE THAT PICTURE OF GOD SPEAKING TO THE PERSON WHO IS ON THE EDGE OF GIVING UP AND SAYING, “YOU’RE NOT ON YOUR OWN. YOU’RE NOT FORGOTTEN. YOU’RE NOT ABANDONED. IN FACT, I WILL SEND AN ARMY TO SEEK YOU OUT AND RESCUE YOU.”

IT’S A SONG OF HOPE…

IS ALSO A SONG OF HOPE, BUT IT IS WRITTEN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE RESCUED, NOT THE RESCUER.

AND FOR YOU AND ME, IT IS FULL OF TRUTH THAT WE NEED TO EMBRACE SO THAT WE CAN BE STRENGTHENED FOR THIS JOURNEY WE ARE ON.

SO LET’S UNPACK THIS PSALM AND SEE WHAT IT IS THAT DAVID IS EMPHASIZING HERE…WHAT IT IS THAT HE IS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE TO THIOSE WHOM WOULD HEAR OR READ THIS PSALM…

1. WHAT RESCUE LOOKS LIKE.

a. – 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!

b. REMEMBER THAT LAST WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD IS INTERESTED IN YOU?

i. WELL HERE’S MORE PROOF OF THAT.

ii. LOOK AT THE WORD USED HERE TO DESCRIBE GOD’S RESPONSE TO DAVID PATIENTLY WAITING FOR HIM.

1. IT SAYS “HE INCLINED TO ME.”

2. THE WORD TRANSLATED “INCLINED” IS A WORD THAT MEANS TO TURN, OR TO STRETCH TOWARD SOMETHING.

3. AND IT IS A PICTURE OF GOD TAKING INTEREST IN WHAT DAVID HAS TO SAY.

iii. THEN DAVID SAYS THAT GOD “HEARD MY CRY.”

1. THE IMPLICATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS POWERFUL, BECAUSE WHAT IT IMPLIES IS THAT GOD DOES MUCH MORE THAN SOME HEAR AND RECORD OR TAKE NOTE OF WHAT IS SAID, BUT HE RESPONDS TO WHAT IS SAID.

iv. DAVID IS POINTING OUT THAT GOD DIDN’T JUST HEAR HIS CRY, HE LEANED IN, LISTENED, AND RESPONDED.

v. HOW DID HE RESPOND?

vi. HE RESCUED HIM.

vii. LOOK AT WHAT DAVID WRITES IN THE SECOND VERSE.

1. HE DREW ME UP.

2. HE SET MY FEET.

3. HE MADE MY STEPS SECURE.

4. HE RESCUED ME.

5. HE GAVE ME A FIRM FOUNDATION – HE SET MY FEET UPON A ROCK.

6. AND HE GAVE ME A NEW DIRECTION – MAKING MY STEPS SECURE.

7. GOD HEARS US, AND IS NOT DISTANT, BUT IS NEAR, AND HE REACHES INTO OUR PLACES OF BONDAGE AND PROVDES A WAY OF ESCAPE, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT HIS WAY…

c. DAVID’S DESCRIPTION OF WHAT RESCUE LOOKS LIKE CONTINUES AS DAVID RECOUNTS THE RESULT OF RESCUE.

i. RESCUE PRODUCES PRAISE.

1. HE PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH.

ii. RESCUE GETS NOTICED.

1. MANY WILL SEE AND FEAR.

iii. RESCUE CAUSES (OR SHOULD CAUSE) ONE’S LOYALTY TO SHIFT.

1. VERSE 4 – BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO MAKES THE LORD HIS TRUST!

a. WHO DOES NOT TURN TO THE PROUD!!!

b. WHO DOES NOT TURN TO THOSE WHO GO ASTRAY AFTER A LIE!!!

d. THE NATURAL RESPONSE FOR THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN RESCUED IS TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF LOYALTY TO THE ONE WHO HAS PROVIDED RESCUE.

2. HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND TO RESCUE.

a. – 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.

b. WE SHOULD TELL OTHERS ABOUT IT!

i. WHAT ARE WE TO TELL?

1. THE MULTIPLIED WONDROUS DEEDS OF THE LORD AND THE FACT THAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE TURNED TOWARD US.

2. I HEAR PEOPLE SAY ALL THE TIME THAT THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO SHARE THEIR FAITH WITH OTHERS.

3. DAVID GIVES US A GREAT PATTERN FOR WITNESS TO FOLLOW RIGHT HERE IN THIS PSALM.

4. TELL WHAT HE’S DONE, AND TELL THAT HE THINKS ABOUT EVERY PERSON.

c. WE SHOULD TURN OUR ATTENTION TO OUR RESCUER!

i. OBEDIENCE SHOULD BECOME A PRIMARY CONCERN.

ii. WE SHOULD BEGIN TO HEAR, UNDERSTAND, AND APPLY THE WISDOM AND TEACHING OF GOD’S WORD.

d. WE SHOULD SERVE OUR RESCUER!

i. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU REALLY FELT THAT IT WAS A DELIGHT TO SERVE THE LORD?

3. WE ARE IN NEED OF CONSTANT RESCUE.

a. – 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!

b. WE NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD IS ALWAYS READY TO SHOW MERCY.

i. MERCY IS A COMPONENT OF RESCUE.

c. THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL ARE ALWAYS ON THE ATTACK.

i. EVILS HAVE ENCOMPASSED ME.

1. I AM CONSTANTLY UNDER ATTACK.

ii. INIQUITIES HAVE OVERTAKEN ME.

1. MY SIN IS EVER PRESENT.

iii. MY HEART FAILS ME.

1. I AM WEAK AND UNABLE TO RESIST WITHOUT THE HELP OF GOD.

d. PEOPLE ARE HURTFUL.

i. THERE ARE THOSE WHO DELIGHT IN THE HURT OF OTHERS. (VERSE 14)

1. :14B – LET THOSE BE TURNED BACK AND BROUGHT TO DISHONOR WHO DELIGHT IN MY HURT!

ii. THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT TO ACCUSE OTHERS OF FAILURE OR WRONGDOING. (VERSE 15)

1. LET THOSE BE APPALLED BECAUSE OF THEIR SHAME WHO SAY TO ME, “AHA, AHA!”

e. BUT GOD IS CONCERNED THAT YOU FIND JOY AND GLADNESS, AND SALVATION IN HIM.

i. BUT MAY ALL WHO SEEK YOU REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN YOU; MAY THOSE WHO LOVE YOUR SALVATION SAY CONTINUALLY, “GREAT IS THE LORD!”

CONCLUSION:

I LOVE HOW VERSE 17 ENDS THIS PSALM, BECAUSE IT GIVES US A PICTURE OF THE CONDITION OF EVERY ONE OF US.

– 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!

IF YOU GET NOTHING ELSE FROM THIS MESSAGE, GET THIS:

- GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN RESCUE YOU.

o RESCUE ME FROM WHAT? SOME MAY SAY…

o GOD WANTS TO RESCUE YOU FROM YOURSELF…

o YOUR SIN – YOU KNOW THIS – YOUR SIN HAS TAKEN YOU PLACES THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO…

§ DARK PLACES…

§ PLACES THAT BRING GUILT ANS SHAME…

§ AND YOU KNOW THAT, ON YOUR OWN, THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM THE DARKNESS…

o WHY DON’T YOU MAKE A DECISION…TODAY…THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TURN TO GOD…

§ AND ASK HIM TO RESCUE YOU…

- HE HAS AN INCREDIBLE PLAN FOR YOU, IF YOU WILL JUST TRUST HIM…

- HOW DO I DO THIS???

- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SALVATION

- GOD RULES—THE BIBLE TELLS US GOD CREATED EVERYTHING, INCLUDING YOU AND ME, AND HE IS IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING. (; ; )

- BUT WE SINNED—WE ALL HAVE CHOSEN AND CONTINUE TO CHOOSE TO DISOBEY GOD. THE BIBLE CALLS THIS SIN. SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD AND DESERVES GOD’S PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. (; )

- BUT BY HIS GRACE, GOD PROVIDED—GOD SENT JESUS, THE PERFECT SOLUTION TO OUR SIN PROBLEM, TO RESCUE US FROM THE PUNISHMENT WE DESERVE. IT’S SOMETHING WE, AS SINNERS, COULD NEVER EARN ON OUR OWN. JESUS ALONE SAVES US. (; )

- JESUS GIVES—JESUS LIVED A PERFECT LIFE, DIED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS, AND ROSE AGAIN. BECAUSE JESUS GAVE UP HIS LIFE FOR US, WE CAN BE WELCOMED INTO GOD’S FAMILY FOR ETERNITY. THIS IS THE BEST GIFT EVER! (; ; )

- OUR PART IS TO RESPOND—WE CAN RESPOND TO JESUS. THE ABCS OF BECOMING A CHRISTIAN IS A SIMPLE TOOL THAT HELPS US REMEMBER HOW TO RESPOND WHEN PROMPTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO RECEIVE THE GIFT JESUS OFFERS.

- A - ADMIT - ADMIT TO GOD THAT YOU ARE A SINNER AND REPENT OF YOUR SINS. (; ; )

- B - BELIEVE - BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD AND THAT HE DID ALL THAT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU TO BE SAVED. (; ; )

- C - CONFESS AND COMMIT - CONFESS JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND COMMIT TO FOLLOW HIM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. (; ; )