Psalm 40, 1 Samuel 13:14

Jeff Cutts

No not my age (but getting close!) It's a song performed by U2, pretty mellow, deep, perhaps you've heard it. But why '40'?

I waited patiently for the Lord.
He inclined and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay.

I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?

You might know already that the mighty U2 took these words right out of the Bible from Psalm 40 - so '40' is a song originally written by King David!

David's story is told in depth in the Bible (In the books of 1 and 2 Samuel) and is quite an adventure. Sure it was a long time ago in a foreign land, but he had his ups and downs and would have felt the same psychedelic range of emotions that we feel throughout our lives. Loneliness...fears...love...courage...faith..doubt...awe...excitement.

If you read the blockbuster that is David's story (and I recommend it) you don't see a perfect man - at his lowest ebb he's a murderer and adulterer - but you see a passionate man living and expressing life in a relationship with God, and it is interesting what God has to say about him.

God says that David is a man after God's own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14)

David's heart was devoted to God. His life was often messy and raw, but God still saw David's heart of devotion.

In this Psalm 40, and many others in the Bible, there is an open and honest cry to God that shows that our devotion or faith is not always neat and tidy, not always ordered, polite and politically correct. It's often messy.

Sometimes it involves a slimy pit, being surrounded by evils, being afflicted and needy. It usually always involves waiting. But God is not afraid of getting His hands dirty, and His arm is not too short to reach you and save you, He is not too weak to pull you out of the mess.

I want you to be encouraged to devote your heart to the Lord, David said 'blessed is the person who makes the Lord their trust'.

I know that God sees those whose hearts are devoted to Him whatever the circumstances. Are you on top of the world today? Thank God for that! Be devoted in gratitude!

Are you slipping in the slimy pit? Echo the words of David, don't be afraid to cry to God, wait for Him and He will lift you out, He will put your feet on the rock, something firm that you can stand upon. And when He does, find a new song and sing it. Or get Bono in your CD player, crank the volume, and ask God to give you a heart like David!

He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be astounded.
They will put their trust in the LORD.
(Psalm 40 v 3)