The Deliverance of God

​Psalm 40:1-3 ~ “I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 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.”
 
God is not deaf to the cries of His children, though it may seem like there is a delay in His rescue. With all faith upon Him, let us always remind ourselves that Christ Jesus who rescues us from our sins will also deliver us from despair. The lingering times, the waiting times, all that which requires our patience before the LORD is there to try our faith and bring us to look not to our own devices but to trust in the LORD who saves. In truth, there is never a trial experienced by God’s people which did not pass through His approval. And let us not forget the words of Paul in Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” If you are, even now, going through a challenging moment in your life—though it might seem like a long-suffering experience—trust in the LORD and know that He has never once forgotten you.
 
Our text begins in the patient lamentation of David. We read, “I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” I believe that all of God’s redeemed have experienced this condition. We cry out to the LORD for deliverance, and there in the midst of our suffering we find that there is a time of waiting laid upon us. Yet David had the right attitude, and so must we. We must be willing to wait patiently for the LORD. We read in Habakkuk 2:3, “If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” In the prophet’s cry, the answer from God was: wait. And so might the answer be for you and I. Our impatience does not change God’s response. He will do as always—and what He always does is good. He will incline Himself to listen to the prayers of His people, and He will never forget one of His own. But the LORD is not hurried as we are and we must have faith to wait patiently for the LORD.
 
We continue to consider our text today and read, “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” Beloved, you will not linger one moment longer than necessary in the trials you might have to face. The world is filled with the wicked who strive against the people of God. Yet the LORD sees and knows all that is happening in this world. And at the moment of God’s deliverance, you will find that He is able and will secure you upon solid ground. Peter expresses it in 1 Peter 5:10, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Three things from our text we see God will do: He will draw you up, removing you from the miry bog; He will set your feet upon a rock, giving you firm ground to stand upon; and He will secure your steps, stabilizing your way. If you are still in that place of difficulty, I would implore you to trust in the LORD for He will deliver you—cry out to Him and wait patiently.
 
In the midst of the circumstances, and through His deliverance, we will be given ample reason to praise Him. Our text continues, “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.” What a delight our hearts will have when we see God’s mighty hand deliver us out of the mire. Yet, even while we are in the difficulty, we will discover that there is ample reason for rejoicing. The disciples came from a time of persecution rejoicing in their suffering. Acts 5:41 states, “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” And, from that exalted praise given to the LORD Almighty, those who see us will marvel and fear—and put their trust in the LORD. What a joy it is when our trials become the means that God uses to bring others to faith in Jesus Christ! Paul stated in Philippians 1:12-13, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.” Let us be said of us that through our sufferings the testimony of the gospel is proclaimed.
 
As we wait, we trust. God will deliver as He has promised. Let us hold fast to our faith until that day—and rejoice, knowing that God has never once and never will fail His children.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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