Psalm 40

I read Psalm 40 today, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite Bible passages. I usually try not to stay on just one chapter in my daily devotion a day, I try to read more, but I could not get away from this passage. I encourage you to read it, not just read it, but to put yourself in the shoes of the author. Remember a time that you were in the miry clay, but Jesus came and lifted you out!

V. 1-3

If you are a disciple of Christ, you have once been in a "slimy pit" & in "mud and mire". Deep in sin, with no way to work yourself out. You were on your way to hell, on a fast track there, but Jesus. But Jesus, came, and he lifted us out of the pit of destruction, out of the pit of our sin and selfishness, out of the slimy pit that sucked us in, and he gave us a firm foundation to stand upon. He placed us on the rock, so that we could stand firm in our trust in Him. When I think about where I could be, should be, would be, if it were not for the grace of God and His all surpassing power and glory, I cannot help but feel so unworthy to be in Bible College. If it were not for the love of God that goes beyond all understanding, a love we cannot even begin to fathom, there is no telling where I would be. Stuck in this miry clay, sticking to me and sucking me down deeper and deeper in my sin, guilt, and shame. A worthless creature. But Jesus gave me life, gave me a meaning, and a purpose. He gave me a new identity! I use to sing a song of despair within my heart they way I lived, but Jesus gave me a new song. A song of life, and redemption. A song of purpose and fulfillment. A song of grace and love. How I thank you Jesus for your grace! You turned my lost and dying life, on a one way track to hell, around and set me on a path of eternal life in your presence. It makes me want to shout!

V. 5

Despite all of the mistakes I have made, you continue to reveal yourself to me. When I think about all that you have done for me, they are too numerous to recount. The Psalmist here reiterates this: there is not enough time in the world to rename all that you have done for us, Lord! So many times we take this for granted. We complain about what we don't have, when we have so much more than enough. God forgive me! 

V. 6

This verse is extremely compelling. The psalmist says that God did not desire sacrifice and offering, but my ear you have pierced, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 

When I first read this, I was very confused. But as I studied I learned that servants during this time would pierce their ear in a covenant that they devote the rest of their life to their master. Now if you place that in the verse, it reads, "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, you want me to devote my whole life to you, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require." 

You may be wandering what this has to do with you, good question! Sacrificial offerings and symbolic rituals were things that God required during this time period. They were meant to show that the Israelites were incapable to live up to God's standards by their selves. But, Israelites were substituting genuine relationship with God with these rituals. These were never meant to be a substitute for a real relationship with God. Now, when we begin to understand that, we see where this verse applies to us. As Christians, so many times we try to substitute having a genuine relationship with Jesus with going to church, giving tithes and offering, a devotion time, helping the poor, etc. All of these things are great, but so was offering sacrifices to God. We see in Genesis, Cain was participating in these rituals, but God was not pleased with his sacrifice. I believe this was because he was devoted to God. We can read the Bible, and pray, and give offering and all of those things, but if we are devoted to a genuine relationship with Jesus, it is all pointless. For God "does not desire sacrifice and offering, but a pierced ear." He wants you to give yourself away! To be a servant of Christ. A slave of righteousness. Devoted for life to his will. 

V. 7-8

Jesus' whole model of ministry and his heart cry was, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." Hebrews quotes V. 7 to explain Jesus' life. Jesus came with a burden for the lost, and a desire to do God's will. This verse is very similar to Isaiah 6:8, "Here am I, send me!" Jesus' motto of ministry was "Here I stand, I desire to do your will. Send me, I will go." If Jesus, God incarnate - God among us, said "I have come to do your will" then why in the world are we not doing the same thing? God has plans and purposes for us to do, yet we go our own way so often! Jesus, let my heart cry what your hear cried, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." When we desire to do God's will, we will have a passion to know His word, and commit it to memory. 

V. 9

"... I do not seal my lips... I do not hide your righteousness in my heart." 

The average American Christian has very rarely, if ever, gone and told lost people about the love of Jesus. Lord, help us to unseal our lips, and to not keep the treasure of salvation in our hearts. Help us, and enable us to proclaim the incredible news of your sacrifice and your love and grace to the whole world! Forgive us for remaining silent, and give us a passion for the lost. 

Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."