Psalm 40
Marvelous deliverance follows continued patience. Others
are thereby quickened to act faith. God's goodness is unspeakable. Christ is
the end of the law. Earnest supplication is awakened by a sense of
surrounding evil. Strong desire follows that confusion may overwhelm the
cruel mockers, while gladness and praise cheer the godly.
1, 2, 3. "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He
inclined to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible
pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my
goings. And He 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."
Patience is a precious grace. O Lord, increase it in us.
Like love, it suffers long, and suffers not in vain. The tree shaken by
winds, the vine well-pruned, becomes abundant in rich fruits. The Lord
arises at the earnest cry, and brings a rescue. Tribulation is as a horrible
pit, beset with terribleness, and presenting no escape. It is as the miry
clay in which the shackled feet move heavily. How sweet the change when the
Lord's rescuing hand brings help! Then a firm pavement courts advance, and
forbids all halting and backsliding. Unencumbered climbers nimbly tread the
upward path. The path, also, resounds with joy. The song of praise which had
been silent again breaks forth; and the Lord's name is duly magnified. The
happy result is not confined to the emancipated pilgrim. Many observe not
only the believer's fall, but also the evidences of God's goodness towards
him. They see that God's blessing truly rests upon His people—awe fills
their minds, and they are led to make the Lord their trust.
4. "Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,
and respects not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies."
The observers see where true blessedness resides. It is
discovered to be far from the haughty, whose confidence is in self, and
whose devious wanderings are amid falsehoods and deceits.
5. "Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works
which You have done, and Your thoughts which are toward us; they cannot be
reckoned up in order to You; if I would declare and speak of them, they are
more than can be numbered."
An obvious reflection cannot be restrained. God's mercies
in providence and grace exceed all powers to number, all eloquence to
unfold. His thoughts are ever devising wondrous works in our behalf. His
mighty hand is ever outstretched to accomplish His gracious plans. Where is
a God like our God? Our praises cannot reach His goodness. Let us love and
adore Him more and more.
6, 7, 8. "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
my ears You have opened; burnt-offering and sin-offering You have not
required. Then I said, lo, I come; in the volume of the book it is written
of Me. I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is within my
heart."
As illustration that God's gracious thoughts exceed all
limits, the work of redeeming love, the everlasting covenant decreed in the
councils of heaven, the coming of the Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
His abrogation of all typical shadows, are particularized. Christ, by His
Holy Spirit speaks; no doubt obscures this truth. The Apostle to the Hebrews
declares it.
In the sacrifices of the Jewish Church there was no
finality. They pointed to the Gospel-fulfillment. Every dying victim
bleeding on every altar pointed to Jesus hanging on the accursed tree. The
blood streaming from each sacrifice foreshadowed the all-cleansing blood of
Calvary. But in the shadow there was no genuine atonement. By Christ alone
is full atonement made, and everlasting expiation rendered. To accomplish
this redeeming work, the Savior must assume our nature. A body must be
prepared for Him. As in the law, the willing servant testified by boring of
the ear his devotedness to his master's service; so in the volume of eternal
decrees, and in the pages of Scripture, Christ's willing work is testified.
Redemption was the Father's will. To do this will was Christ's intense
delight. Father, we bless You for Your love, the cause of all salvation.
Precious Jesus, we bless You for Your love which undertook and finished the
glorious work!
9, 10. "I have preached righteousness in the great
congregation; lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, You know. I 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 congregation."
As Jesus fulfilled the priestly office by the
sacrifice of Himself, so He fulfills His work as prophet. By His
lips, by the announcement of His servants, taught and aided by His Spirit,
the righteousness of God is proclaimed from age to age. No veil conceals the
glorious mysteries of salvation. The whole scheme is traced to its grand
source. The lovingkindness and truth of God is duly set forth. Happy are
those who are privileged to hear from faithful lips the words of life! Happy
those who gladly embrace them, and ascribe salvation to the sovereign
will and gracious purpose of the divine Jehovah!
11. "Withhold not Your tender mercies from me, O Lord;
let Your loving-kindness and Your truth continually preserve me."
There is no sweeter encouragement in prayer than the
knowledge that the whole work of redemption has been fully accomplished by
our mystical Head; and that all the mercies of the covenant of grace are a
purchased possession. The believer may draw near with boldness and claim the
guardian care, not only of lovingkindness but also of truth. Believers are
in peril at every moment; but at every moment the mercies for which Christ
has paid the price of His most precious death are near; and lovingkindness
and truth are continually ready to uphold.
12. "For innumerable evils have surrounded me; my
iniquities have taken hold of me, so that I am not able to look up; they are
more than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart fails me."
To the eye of faith the blessed Jesus here conspicuously
appears. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to
his own way, but the Lord has laid on Him the iniquities of us all." "He was
made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of
God in Him." Thus He stands before God, by imputation as the greatest
sinner ever seen on earth. He denies not His sin-laden position. He accepts
all the iniquities of all His people, as truly His own. He acknowledges
their grievous weight. They so depress Him that He cannot raise His eyes. In
numbers they exceed all power to count. In devout consciousness of the
immensity of relief, with what fervor will the believer bless His
burden-bearer—His sin sustainer—the Lamb of God, who takes away his sin!
13. "Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make
haste to help me."
Emboldened by the plea that all guilt is transferred to
Christ, the believer urgently implores deliverance, and craves immediate aid
from his God. May the Lord increase our faith, that we may wrestle in full
assurance that all the provisions of the covenant of grace are truly ours!
14, 15. "Let them be ashamed and confounded together
who seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward, and put
to shame, who wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame
who say to me, Aha, aha!"
This petition is prophetic. It foresees the final
overthrow of Antichrist, and all the opposing hosts of darkness. The seed of
the woman shall surely bruise the serpent's head. The Gospel has gone forth
conquering and to conquer. Voices in heaven shall assuredly proclaim, "The
kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His
Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever." His enemies shall lick the
dust. The dreadful cry will be heard, "Hide us from the face of Him who
sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." Blessed are those who
have fled for refuge to the wounded side of Jesus! They are delivered from
the wrath to come. When weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, are the
one sound of woe, they will commence the everlasting hymn of praise!
16. "Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in
You; let those who love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be
magnified."
The character of the rejoicing company is distinctly
drawn. They seek the Lord; they love His salvation. It is their grand desire
to know more of Christ; they forsake all to follow Him; they strive to grow
in grace, and in His knowledge; and their whole hearts delight in the
salvation which He so dearly purchased, and so freely gives. Their joy is to
exalt the Lord, and lift high His praise.
17. "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon
me; You are my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."
Deep consciousness of poverty continually abides. In us,
that is in our flesh, there dwells no good thing. Yet we are rich and have
all things in the gracious care of our God. His thoughts of love are ever on
His people. He is their help and their deliverer, and their cry gives Him no
rest, "Make no tarrying, O my God."