Psalms 40:1-17: a reflection

1I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry. 2He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. 3He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies. 5Many, LORD, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted. 6Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering. 7Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll. 8I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.” 9I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, LORD, you know. 10I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly. 11Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, LORD. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me. 12For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me. 13Be pleased, LORD, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, LORD. 14Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt. 15Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!” 16Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let the LORD be exalted!” 17But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.

This psalm begins with a testimony of deliverance. I waited patiently for the LORD, David says, and he turned to me and heard my cry; he lifted me out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock. And more: he put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to God. Out of the pit, onto a rock, and given a new song: this is what God did for the one who waited on him. And out of it flows a heart that says, I delight to do your will, O my God.

Notice the progression of God's deliverance here. David was in the pit, in the miry clay, sinking, with no firm footing. God lifted him out, set his feet on a rock, gave him a firm place to stand, and then put a new song in his mouth. The deliverance was complete: not only rescued from the pit, but established on the rock, and given a new song of praise. And the response it drew was delight in doing God's will. God's rescue lifted him from the mire to solid ground and to song.

That progression is one to hold onto, and to hope for, in our own pits. When we are sinking, in the miry clay with no firm footing, it can seem there is no way out. But God is able to lift us out, to set our feet on a rock, to give us a firm place to stand, and even to put a new song in our mouths. The pit is not the end for those who wait on God. If you are in the pit now, sinking, with no firm footing, wait on the LORD; he is able to lift you out and set your feet on a rock. And when he does, let the new song he gives rise into praise, and let your heart say, with David, I delight to do your will. From the pit to the rock to a new song: this is what God does; wait on him, and hope for it.

Lord, this psalm begins with David's testimony: I waited patiently for the LORD, and he lifted me out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, set my feet on a rock, and put a new song in my mouth; and out of it flowed a heart that said, I delight to do your will. Help me hold onto and hope for that progression in my own pits. When I am sinking, in the miry clay with no firm footing, it can seem there is no way out. But you are able to lift me out, to set my feet on a rock, to give me a firm place to stand, and even to put a new song in my mouth. The pit is not the end for those who wait on you. If I am in the pit now, sinking, with no firm footing, help me wait on you; you are able to lift me out and set my feet on a rock. And when you do, let the new song you give rise into praise, and let my heart say, with David, I delight to do your will. From the pit to the rock to a new song: this is what you do; help me wait on you, Lord, and hope for it.