Psalm 40…The Lord Inclines : (Part 7)

November 21, 2010 at 9:31 pm (Assurance, Devotional Thoughts., Forgiveness, Lighter Burdens., Sins, Sovereignty of God, When you are afraid, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom)

Scripture Reference;

Psalm 40KJV

¹I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.²He 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.³And 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.⁴Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.⁵Many, 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.⁶Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.⁷Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,⁸I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.⁹I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.¹⁰I 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.¹¹Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.¹²For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.¹³Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.¹⁴Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.¹⁵Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.¹⁶Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.¹⁷But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

A few months ago I began to have panic attacks that were quite debilitating. I remember desiring to be able to function. I often felt afraid to even drive a mile from home, and it was hard to study the Bible, but I wanted to so badly. I remember coming across this psalm and finding some comfort in it, so I decided to meditate on portions of it and share the thoughts that came to me in my posts. If you go back and start with “Part 1 (“https://pronetoponder.wordpress.com/2010/06/07/groanings-part-5a-the-lord-inclines/ )  and take note of the dates on each post, you will notice that there have been pauses. I am much better now, and am functioning for the most part normally. I still have occasional attacks but they are much milder and easier to manage, so once again, after another long break from my study of Psalm 40 I am continuing now.

¹¹Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.²For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.¹³Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.¹⁴Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.¹⁵Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.  Psalm 40:11-15 KJV

Today as I read this psalm again I noticed that verses 1-5 were written in the present tense and verses 6-15 changes to past tense and although it looks like it switches back to present tense,  David is still looking back in time to another day and is quoting what He said on the day he cried for help…so today as I look at verses 11-15 I can read that passage with confidence that the Lord both heard and rescued David out of that awful state, and verses 1-4 confirm that fact.

I too can both sympathize and rejoice with David as I read not just verses 11-15, but also the entire Psalm, because the Lord rescued and has promised to continue rescuing me!  Innumerable evils do surround the Lord’s children, and their iniquities (evil:– fault, mischief) can be more than the hairs on their heads, can overcome them to the point that they lose heart, but the Lord’s goodness and mercy is so much greater, and they can cry out for deliverance, and their cries will not be in vain! Those foes shall be defeated!

Let’s consider another situation. The crucifixion of Jesus was close at hand, and he knew that his disciples would be scattered and experience fear and sorrow before He rose from the dead and showed himself to them. Below is a conversation He had with them.

²⁵These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.²⁶At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:²⁷For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.²⁸I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.²⁹His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.³⁰Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.³¹Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?³²Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.³³These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.John 16:25-33 KJV

He also taught them to pray “The Lord’s Prayer”.  Here it is below:

⁹After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.¹⁰Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.¹¹Give us this day our daily bread.¹²And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13 KJV

Now look at verse 13 again:

¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

We are told to pray to be delivered from evil, and we are also told to have confidence in Jesus; that He has and will forever have the power to deliver us from evil.  He knows what is truly evil and He will deliver us from it if we have prayed that prayer. What a wonderful thing to ponder!

Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord?  Please click on “Very Important Words” on the left margin of this page and make sure.

Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just go to http://www.biblegateway.com. They have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!