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Hear the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3isQE2f
View devotional Here: https://bit.ly/3IItfoe
I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, 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 false gods! 5 Thou hast multiplied, O LORD my God, thy wondrous deeds and thy thoughts toward us; none can compare with thee! Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire; but thou hast given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering thou hast not required. 7 Then I said, "Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me; 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart." 9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; lo, I have not restrained my lips, as thou knowest, O LORD. 10 I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation. 11 Do not thou, O LORD, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness ever preserve me! (Psalm 40:1-11 Revised Standard Version Bible)
Two relatively modern songs come to mind as I read this beautiful psalm. The psalm was believed written about 1023 BC, so anything after that year is "modern." The first song is "The Waiting" by Tom Petty from 1981. The other is U2's "40". I shared a short devotional on this passage and song during FUMC - Gonzales' Lenten Soup and Study. U2 tells an interesting story about their having chosen this psalm as a song. They needed one last song for their album, they asked for a Bible, turned it to the Book of Psalms and read the fortieth psalm. They say they named the song 40 because it took 10 minutes to write the song, ten minutes to record it, ten to mxit it and ten minutes to hear it; but they claim it has nothing to do with it being called 40 (Add a wink here!).
The psalm addresses some major issues that trouble humans. Patience, and the lack thereof in most people, as Mr. Petty sang, but it also does affirm that if we must wait, waiting on the Lord is not a bad thing. For we are heard immediately and God will answer in His time. Think back to a waiting room when you did not know what's next; or a labor and delivery room, or a court room, or at the altar awaiting the "walk down" by your special one; actually, your list could be longer, but you understand the psalmist's saying that he waited PATIENTLY, which to me says he had faith, hope, and trust in God. God would answer and more likely than not, the answer would be favorable. And as we hear where he has been, we can relate. Your definition of a "desolate pit" or "miry bog," may vary, but we can whittle it down to it being a not-so-good spot. But, he knows a better spot, on a "rock," where his footing was secure and strong. And this led him to a better place, a place where he felt he could sing, and sing he did. A new song of praise and thanksgiving, and one that will draw others to the awareness that in God we have hope and strength. "Blessed is the man and woman who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astry after false gods!"
It brings us back to our attitude. The psalmist says that he delights in doing God's will, for the Word of God was within his heart; it was a part of his being and helped define him. There's a millions miles from the pages of the unopened and unread Bible to the word of God that because of study and devotion, has become a part of that person's being. Think back to sitting in a classroom where you had to be there versus the classes that truly delighted you; what were the results of your attitude? The same holds true for our approaching and receiving God's word. The person who knows that God has blessed them truly delights in sharing about the goodness of God; there is no restraint of lips, nor hiding of the goodness that God has done for them.
This psalm could be divided into three parts, or points, that might help us better understand it: Patience to Pray, Patience to Obey, Patience to Say. If we discipline ourselves to become people of patient prayer, we become those who enjoy a daily connection with God. If we have taht connection with God we develop a patience to do as we hear God as we pray. I highly stress that when we pray, we should learn to listen within our spirits; if prayer is a conversation, then there is a give and take, for prayer should not be dictation. We enjoy God's company as we pray and its in the enjoyment that we learn to listen to God. And it is through our listening that we learn to share that which we have received from God. The art of testifying is dying out, sadly. Some churches used to have moments of sharing testimonies of what God has done. That's the Say part of the three. "If you see something, say something" is associated with what warnings we have seen at airports, but we as believers should embrace "If you receive something, say something so that others may know of the goodness of God." This is how the world will come to know of God's steadfast lve and faithfulness even in stressful or difficult times.
PRAYER: Awesome God, as we pray, we are also listening to what You may say to us. We are a blessed people and we have, or should have, much to say about the good You have shared with us. Make us truly people who have patience to pray, patience to obey, and the boldness and patience, to say. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be patient and bold in praying, obeying, and saying.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
To hear U2's 40 click here: https://youtu.be/7Ln7R_wnfQM
To hear Tom Patty’s The Waiting: https://youtu.be/uMyCa35_mOg
