Scripture
Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
Psalm 40:11 NIV
Question
When bad things happen do you find yourself avoiding God or seeking him more?
Psalm 40
He Set My Feet on a Rock
The first three verses of Psalm 40 are some of the most comforting words in all of scripture. They speak of God’s goodness and his desire and promise to save his people if we are willing to wait patiently for him to do it.
Something that is easy to overlook, however, is that David is writing here in the past tense. He is remembering a time when God saved or protected him from trouble.
As we continue reading, something uncomfortable happens— the trouble appears to come back. Tim Keller offers helpful insight when he says, “Verses 11-17 show... that situations that require waiting on God will always return, sometimes with startling suddenness. David is back under pressure, but this time he has a deeper sense of God’s unmerited grace (vv. 16-17).”
The praise and thanksgiving found in the hindsight we gain after God has demonstrated his goodness and faithfulness to us is wasted if we do not use it to prepare for whatever may come next. This does not mean that we need to live in fear, but instead remember the words of Jesus who said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
When troubles reappear, or we encounter new ones, let us be like David and remember the examples of grace we have already experienced, so that in those moments we have the strength to keep praying, “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, ‘The Lord is great!’” (v. 16).
When bad things happen do you find yourself avoiding God or seeking him more?
What is one encouragement from this psalm you can hold onto the next time you encounter hard times?
Something that is easy to overlook, however, is that David is writing here in the past tense. He is remembering a time when God saved or protected him from trouble.
As we continue reading, something uncomfortable happens— the trouble appears to come back. Tim Keller offers helpful insight when he says, “Verses 11-17 show... that situations that require waiting on God will always return, sometimes with startling suddenness. David is back under pressure, but this time he has a deeper sense of God’s unmerited grace (vv. 16-17).”
The praise and thanksgiving found in the hindsight we gain after God has demonstrated his goodness and faithfulness to us is wasted if we do not use it to prepare for whatever may come next. This does not mean that we need to live in fear, but instead remember the words of Jesus who said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
When troubles reappear, or we encounter new ones, let us be like David and remember the examples of grace we have already experienced, so that in those moments we have the strength to keep praying, “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, ‘The Lord is great!’” (v. 16).
When bad things happen do you find yourself avoiding God or seeking him more?
What is one encouragement from this psalm you can hold onto the next time you encounter hard times?
Prayer