Psalms 40:1-5 

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID.

​ I waited patiently for the LORD;

And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 

And he hath put a new song in my mouth,

Even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust,

And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done,

And thy thoughts which are to us-ward:

They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:

If I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered.

Introduction:

Our message today is taken from the book of Psalms 40. I’ll be focussing on the first 5 verses but referencing the entire psalm…such is the depth (so deep) of this psalm. And indeed referencing the entire book of Psalms. There are just so many cross-references that it’s astounding. 

Psalm 40 is such an incredible psalm. As with many many of the psalms it deals with human fragility and the trials of life. In bringing these to our attention, we also receive the encouragement required to continue our Christian walk. 

What we also see in Psalm 40 is prophecy…and in verses 6-8 we have a Messianic prophecy regarding Christ’s atonement. 

It’s interesting as we break this psalm down, there appears to be 4 distinct sections.

Verses 1-5: God’s past faithfulness and deliverance 

Verses 6-8: Christ’s atonement (prophetic)

Verses 9-10: David preaches righteousness 

Verses 11-17: David’s prayer in his current trial  

My prayer is that I do justice to such an amazing psalm…which at times defies words (it’s just that breathtaking)

4 points today:

A New Song Expresses the Faithfulness of God:

A New Song Emphasizes the Deliverance of God:

A New Song Encourages Faith in God:

A New Song Extols the Works of God:

Let’s pray

A New Song Expresses the Faithfulness of God:

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID.

​ I waited patiently for the LORD;

And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalms 40:1 

In verse 1 David begins by writing in retrospect (past tense) of the faithfulness of God in relation to his answered pray. As we read the second half of psalm 40, we notice that he uses his past experience as impetus for his current circumstances (verses 9-17) and especially verse 17 where David prays:

“But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.” (Psalm 40:17)

It’s impossible to draw on the faithfulness of God unless you know God. In Hebrews chapter 11 which is known as the faith chapter of the bible we read:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Note: DILIGENTLY seek him…not CASUALLY  seek him

This in itself is a test because there are times when we might give up…but the Lord desires that we earnestly and diligently seek him. 

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It’s worth reminding ourselves that the Psalms…as well as being songs, many of them are also prayers.

In the case of Psalm 40 we read that the Lord inclined his ear unto David and heard his cry (his prayer). 

In light of this, we can also expect the Lord to HEAR our prayers and indeed ANSWER them. 

The incredible thing about prayer is that they don’t have to be audible. We see this in 1 Samuel and Hannah’s prayer for a son.

The incredible thing about prayer is that the Lord knows our needs and the words of our lips even before we say them (Psalm 139).

The wonderful thing about prayer is that even when we don’t know how to pray…the Holy Spirit assists us in these.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

Knowing how God answers our prayers is critically important. The first principle that we see is that it is ALWAYS according to his will. In answering our prayers there are three potential answers…YES! NO! WAIT!

As we seek the Lord for answers to life’s trials we rest in the reality of God (we believe that God is) and the knowledge of God (he is who he is) to inform us in the midst life’s circumstances and especially in times of trouble. 

This knowledge ONLY comes from reading his word.

We’re familiar with the saying: “HE’S MAKING IT UP AS HE GOES ALONG” You really can’t afford to do that in your Christian walk. We must be guided by the truth of God’s word. 

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2Corinthians 10:4-5)

We know that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.

We know that the heart is capable of deceiving the mind…

This is why we must rely on the word of God to correct our thoughts when they contradict who God is…

We need to believe that God is omnibenevolent (all good) and only wants the best for us. We have to believe that even when we lack faith he abideth faithful…he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13)

We don’t know at which point of David’s life this psalm was written… 

What we do know is that throughout his life David had experienced the faithfulness of God: 

He experienced the faithfulness of God as a youth

He experienced the faithfulness of God as an old man

“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

Therefore he is able to say:

I WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD…with a certain expectation and hope that the Lord would hear his prayer…

And indeed he did…HE INCLINED HIS EAR AND HEARD DAVID’S CRY.

PATIENTLY:

Patience is critical and is something which is developed in our trials. 

[Turn to]

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

Paul tells us to glory in our tribulations…something that is counterintuitive to most people (I dare say). 

Nevertheless,

It is in enduring our trials with a godly attitude (counting it all joy when your faith is tested) that we learn patience. Or as Romans states: it is worked into us…

INTO OUR VERY BEING

As patience is developed through tribulation, so too is experience developed or worked by  patience. 

Patience (at the start) ultimately leads to hope…a certain expectation and confidence in God’s love and faithfulness (both in a temporal sense and an eternal one). 

A New Song Emphasizes the Deliverance of God:

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Psalms 40:2

Verse 2 describes the actualization of God’s faithfulness through answered prayer. 

The psalmist tells us of the predicament that he was in…He uses several metaphors to describe his situation and the picture we get from this metaphor is quite bleak:

He was stuck in a pit which he describes as HORRIBLE. Not only was he stuck in a pit, he was also stuck in miry clay and powerless to escape.

We can’t ignore the desperation that is being described in this situation.

The psalms really are excellent at describing the human condition in ways that are tangible. 

Again: 

A pit suggests a place which is dark and confined: A place of despair.

Another perfect description.

The most extreme application of the word “pit” is death and this is possibly what David is alluding to. “O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.” (Psalm 30:3)

Certainly there were times in his (our) life when he felt like he was dying “emotionally” or going to die “physically” 

Metaphorically speaking:

There was no way David could have climbed out through his own strength. And even if he could, the miry clay would have made his efforts all the more difficult.

In keeping with the idea of “death”…there is no way of coming back from death save a miracle. DEATH IS PERMANENT 

To be brought up means to be lifted out. We see that it was the Lord who lifted David out of the pit. And this accentuates his completely helpless state and his complete dependence on the Lord…

I’m reminded of this state of hopelessness when I think of Jehoshaphat’s prayer who when under siege from a host of enemies concludes his prayer with these words:

“O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” (2Chronicles 20:12)

Again the Israelites were both helpless and ignorant of what they ought to do. 

THE ONLY THIG THEY COULD DO IS LOOK TO GOD

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THIS STATE OF COMPLETE HELPLESSNESS ISN’T NECESSARILY A BAD PLACE TO BE 

WHY?

There are times when the Lord allows us to endure situations totally beyond our control. Sometimes it is only when we get to the end of ourselves and our own efforts that we truly and earnestly seek God.

I’m sure I state the obvious when I say that the Lord doesn’t want us to be self-sufficient…Who gets the glory? 

Even when we think that we can deliver ourselves from whatever situation we find ourselves in…

HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS

Wait patiently…there’s a purpose for our trial

The ultimate purpose is that the Lord is glorified and we learn to trust God in them. 

As we read further in Psalm 40 this is what we see. 

“Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust,”  

For the believer we need to be looking to the Lord and seeking his wisdom CONSTANTLY 

In David’s case, we see that his deliverance took him from a state of helplessness to a place of security…from miry clay and set upon a ROCK. Not surprisingly, Jesus tells us to build our lives on rock rather than sand. 

There’s nothing like a firm foundation and we have that in God’s word.  

“Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.” (Psalm 18:36)

In enlarging our steps the pathway and direction in which we should go, becomes clear. This what the psalmist alludes to when he says that the Lord established his goings. 

THE WORD ESTABLISH SUGGESTS SECURITY

The Lord promises to be our guide throughout our entire lives. 

“For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” (Psalm 48:14)

His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path…

He leads us in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Ultimately, we ought to be guided by his word. The authority of his word must dictate all areas of our lives: These include

OUR THOUGHTS…OUR BELIEFS…OUR ACTIONS

Again, we’re not told the specifics of David’s situation. However in applying this psalm to our own lives, we can’t ignore the possibility of finding ourselves in a pit of our own making.

We should be familiar with the saying: HE DUG HIMSELF A HOLE

I’m sure we’ve all been there, I know I certainly have. 

I WAS STUCK IN A PIT FOR 7 YEARS…

If you know that you are the reason for your own predicament…the solution is simple: HUMILITY

Humbly confess your sin…when we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord won’t hear our prayers. 

And pray for the wisdom and strength to make the changes necessary. 

A New Song Encourages Faith in God:

And he hath put a new song in my mouth,

Even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust,

And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Psalms 40:3-4 

When the Lord CLEARLY works in an individual’s life, there is no room for DOUBT and it ALWAYS bears fruit…

IN FACT THIS IS A RELIABLE TEST WITH REGARDS TO THE DIRECTION  OUR LIVES ARE TAKING…

As we see in our text, David says: “…he hath put a new song in my mouth”

Remember (once again) that the Psalms ARE songs and at the time of writing Psalm 40

IT WAS THE NEW SONG!!!

Nevertheless:

We can’t discount the fact there is another song being referred to and if this is the case we actually have a song within a song (so to speak)

Music is such a powerful medium and its no surprise that the book with the most chapters in the bible…IS A BOOK OF SONGS…150 in total

Satan knows this also (the power of music) and he has filled the world with music…we’re literally being SATURATED WITH IT EVERYDAY

Godless songs which encourage us to put our hope in everything other than God.

I personally made a concerted effort to rid my life of unnecessary godless music (including CCM)

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Psalm 40 begins as a song of praise in response to the deliverance of God from the pit he had been in. It is also a response to the current peril he is in…as we see in the latter part of this psalm. 

In verses 3 & 4 we read:

And he hath put a new song in my mouth,

Even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust,

And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Psalms 40:3-4 

It is here where we read of “the NEW SONG” and the effect that it not only has on those around him but also on himself (we’ll look at this shortly).

Again…music is a powerful medium. 

The immediate effect to those around him is that they see his praises toward God…FEAR the Lord and put their trust in him. 

It’s interesting that David’s praises elicited FEAR…which seems an unusual response  and can only and possibly be explained thus:

[Turn to]

“But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:13)

In this passage, Paul is explaining the difference between light and darkness. Light will always expose darkness. It is not something that ought to be tolerated (or respected v4). 

The light of David’s witness (made evident through his praises) must have brought the reproof and conviction of sin required to produce faith. 

We also see in verses 10 & 11 his commitment to that cause:

“I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.” (Psalm 40:9-10)

David believed therefore he spoke (Psalm 116:10, 2 Corinthians 4:13)

It’s so important for the redeemed of the Lord to say so…(Psalm 107:2)

As a result of his witness the ungodly turn aside from lies (idols) and put their trust in the:

TRUE AND LIVING GOD…

Truth and righteousness go hand in hand with each other. Remember that ALL LIARS have their place in the lake of fire. 

AND

Truth goes hand in hand with faith in God…

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1John 1:8)

In regards to our own witness:

And so it should be with us (believe and therefore speak) if we are truly being the salt and light of this world. But what if salt loses its savour? Jesus says that it is good for nothing but to be trampled under foot. (Sobering thought)

We know that the word of God will not return void…it will either cause conviction (with a softening of the heart) or condemnation (with a hardening of the heart)

As I mentioned before, we can’t overlook the effect that David’s praises had on his own life. We see in the latter part of this Psalm that David is experiencing…

FURTHER TRIALS

FURTHER CHALLENGES

FURTHER STRUGGLES WITH SIN

It’s during these times that we need to LOOK UP and remind ourselves of the faithfulness of God. 

In the book of Philippians (the book of joy and rejoicing…written from a prison cell)…

Paul tells us several times to rejoice in the Lord

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Paul also reminds us to focus our thoughts on godly thoughts:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Our witness is just so important…and ought to reflect the work that the Lord has done in our lives.

That work begins at conversion (when we are born again)…

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:27-29)

We were created unto good works…again this begins when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved.

A New Song Extols the Works of God:

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered. Psalms 40:5 

As believers, we are well aware that the Lord intervenes in the life of individuals and nations.

Everything  the Lord does in our lives (even our trials and tribulations) is for an eternal purpose (no he didn’t put eternity in our hearts) and although we may not see it we must be mindful of it. 

In being mindful of it…we ought to cooperate with God and not contradict it…

“Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” (Ecclesiastes 9:18)

When we think about the unseen work of God in our lives we take great encouragement from Paul:

[Turn to]

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternalweight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2Corinthians 4:17-18)

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There are so many examples in the bible of the way in which the Lord has intervened in the lives of others:

Abram: Taken out of the land of the Chaldees and into the land of Canaan. Given the name Abraham and made to be the father of many nations…

Jacob and his family preserved through famine…entered the land of Egypt as a family of 70 and left as a nation of 2 million.

The patience of Job tested

The apostle Paul delivered from innumerable light afflictions. 

The Psalms are incredible in that they give both individual testimonies and historical accounts in regards to Israel. Psalms 78 and 79 are good examples of God’s dealings with Israel. 

INDEED

When we take all these things into consideration which includes David’s own person journey…

He says well when he says:

“Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done…”

Furthermore as we read in the text, those deeds are contingent on the thoughts that he has towards us…

There is nothing that the Lord does that didn’t begin in his mind. The same is true of us (thoughts become actions). 

“…and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered.

We have further confirmation in the scriptures that the Lord is mindful of us…

David was astounded when he wrote:

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:4)

Jeremiah was moved to write:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

The Lord is not only mindful of us but also knows everything about us: 

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” (Psalm 56:8)

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“Many” is such an incredible word in the context of these verses.

His thoughts and deeds towards us cannot be reckoned…that is to say counted. You’d be tempted to say infinite. And in thinking that…it blows me away.

His thoughts and deeds are so many that there isn’t enough time to declare them. 

The gospel of John hints at this (right at the end of the gospel):

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)

AGAIN…THIS IS MIND BOGGLING 

One thing that is sure…the loving thoughts of our Lord toward us far outnumber the innumerable  evils that we see in verse 12 (as the hairs on his head) that Satan would plan against us….we come against fiery darts continually and we are not ignorant of his devices. 

In verses 6-8 wee see the ultimate work of God prophetically spoken of here…

Alluding to Christ’s atoning work on the cross.

[TURN TO]

“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:6-8)

The prophetic nature of these verses is revealed in the book of Hebrews as the writer reminds the Jewish believers that:

[Turn to]

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4)

It goes on to explain: 

“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:5-10)

If it wasn’t for  Christ’s atoning work…(his death, burial and resurrection) all of the other things which the Lord does and has done for us would be in vain. 

And we would be most miserable of all men…

YET BECAUSE OF THIS WE HAVE HOPE

[Turn to]

“For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:3-4)

[The guiding scripture of this church]

* “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” (Psalm 69:9)

Conclusion: 

As I mentioned in my previous message…so many of David’s psalms are testimonies and are therefore truly a blessing and encouragement to us. 

BUILDING FAITH AND HOPE

This Psalm is no different…

In terms of faith building, we learn so much about the character of God in the Old Testament. In Psalm 40 we clearly see the faithfulness of God demonstrated in such a powerful way. 

VERSES 6-8 ARE PIVOTAL TO THIS PSALM

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire;

mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psalms 40:6-8

They highlight the Lord’s commitment to mankind in making a way back to him. 

We see that the favour of God is not earned through burnt offerings and other sacrifices. These ought to be a reflection of the heart of the person who is presenting them. Even then they are not sufficient to fully atone for our sin. 

Remember:

The just shall live by faith. And righteousness only comes through faith in Christ.

Remember:

Abraham believed God and it was accounted as righteousness.

The wonderful thing about the word of God is that in its pages we read of the Lord (in the volume of the book it is written of me.) 

As believers

It’s as we read the Bible that we discover the lyrics (so to speak), of the NEW SONG in our lives. We read REAL accounts of REAL people who had REAL faith in a REAL God…

And this is the thing…if you’re not reading the bible

YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SING THE OLD SONG

If you’re rehearsing the same lines over and over in your head and worse still speaking them out…

YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR TUNE

You need a change of heart (or possibly a new heart)…because it’s out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.

We walk by faith (the just shall live by faith) and not by sight…

THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE

Is to be in the word of God…and to have communion with God through prayer. 

It’s nearly impossible to speak of deliverance and security without considering these from an eternal perspective…

Whether you believe it or not…if you do not know the Lord

YOU ARE IN A PIT 

[You just can’t see the walls]

ALL IT TAKES IS A SIMPLE PRAYER

[Only the Lord is able to lift you out and set your feet on solid ground]

 Let’s pray 

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