PSALM 40
Psalm 40:1-11
Summer of Psalms Message Series
July 9, 2017
Pastor Nathan J. Thompson
I have taken (as some of you know) multiple canoe trips in the Boundary Waters at the end of the Gunflint Trail in Northern Minnesota and Canada. In fact I spent a summer guiding trips at Wilderness Canoe Base when I was in high school and I have taken some 23 trips through the years with youth in my churches—over 200 youth have participated.
You can imagine there are many stories and incidents that I could share from each of these trips. Every voyage and group had its own dynamic as well as weather conditions; bugs; falls into the water. I could also share about some amazing Bible discussions; prayer times; youth testimonies.
Reading the first few verses of Psalm 40 reminds me of a time when I was portaging through the woods around a rapids carrying a 40 lb. backpack on my back and a 70 lb. alumacraft canoe on my shoulders. Needless to say I was pretty loaded down.
When I came to a recently rained upon (a very muddy place) on the path I tried to maneuver around this area by stepping on large rocks that protruded out of the ground. It was a pretty delicate dance that needed lots of agility and coordination—not always my strongest suit.
Stepping on one muddy and wet rock—all of a sudden I realized that I was sliding backward toward the muddy ground. With that 70 lb. canoe and a 40 lb. Pack—my balance and inertia had very little chance to be put right again.
Therefore rather than fight it (or chance breaking a bone) I simply let myself slide on my butt. There I was a canoe on top of my head; a backpack holding me down; and I was sitting in and surrounded by mud. There was absolutely no way I could roll or do anything to get up.
All I could do was to call out for someone to help me. It was several minutes before some others in our group came along the path and heard me calling for help. With their help they were able to lift off the canoe; lift me on my feet; get me on the solid rock again.
Truth is that there are many people today (perhaps some of you here this morning) who are carrying some heavy burdens in your hearts/lives. Perhaps you feel like you are stuck in the mud with a canoe hiding you away; wondering if you can ever get out.
Perhaps it’s your marriage that is stuck or floundering. Maybe the economy or the loss of a job has set you on your back. Maybe you are having problems with your kids; with a family member; with a friend. Perhaps you have lost your sense of purpose/meaning; are feeling alone.
The Psalmist in Psalm 40 (I believe) understands and shares many of these feelings. He talks about being in a slimy pit; about being in the mud and mire. Certainly the Psalmist knew what it was like to face the desolate experience of sin; depression; disease.
Yet the Psalmist said that in this slimy pit of a life he waited patiently for the Lord; he trusted that God would turn to him and would hear his cry. In that trust God then stooped down to where he was; lifted him out of the mud; gave him a firm place to stand on a solid rock.
One of the important things to remember about the Psalms is that they are very honest with their feelings/emotions. Fact is there are many times the Psalm writers are shaking their fists at God in anger; are crying out in deep pain and hurt. It is truly permission to be the real you.
Yet no matter how desperate (down) they feel the Psalm writers always believe that God is there. They always trust that God hears their prayers; that he will ultimately help them. Even in the lowest of times their attitude is still one of trust and hope.
This of course is an important theme that is often talked about in the Bible. One example is 1 Thessalonians 4:13—the Apostle Paul tells the people of Thessalonica to grieve deeply over the loss (death) of their loved ones and friends. Grief; anger; deep emotions are important parts of who you are as a human being.
However Paul says to not grieve like the rest of the world who have no hope. The good news is that in Jesus those who have died believing in him will live forever. The good news is that as believers (even in your deepest grief) you share the hope; assurance of life everlasting.
The Psalms remind you that God wants you to be real with whatever feelings (emotions) you may have. He wants you to shake your fist at him; curse him if you need to; tell him exactly how you feel—always remember he can take it. As you do make sure you keep your hope in him.
It is sad today that so many in this world don’t know this kind of hope and trust. It is so sad that so many are stuck in the miry clay of despair; they see no way out. It is so sad that so many have no faith community to pray for them; to weep (rejoice) with them; to help lift them up.
I have heard it said countless numbers of times in my 40 years as a pastor—people bearing witness that they just can’t imagine how they would have made it through their tragedy; sickness; loss—without their church; the faith support of others; without hope centered in God.
No wonder you need to be so passionate about your mission and outreach here at Messiah. No wonder you can never become complacent (selfish) as believers; as a church. There are growing numbers of people each day who are getting stuck in the mud of life; people who don’t have God’s hope (caring believers) to help them.
Each one of you are called to be witnesses. You are called to share your real feelings; your real stories with others. You are called to help others see how God has lifted you out of the pit so you can stand on the solid rock. Personal stories are always the best witness to share.
The Psalmist in response then (to God saving him) turns his words (his focus) to worshipping and praising God. His words proclaim, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”
In worshipping (praising) God the Psalmist also says that the old worship rituals are not enough. “Sacrifice and offerings you did not desire…burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.” In other words—simply doing the right liturgy; ritual; music set; outward sacrifice is not what it is all about.
Rather he says, “I desire to do your will, my God, your law is within my heart. I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips Lord, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.”
Truth is it’s when you trust your life and hope to Jesus; when you patiently trust him to lift you out of the mud each day; it is then that you want to worship him with all your heart/soul. It is through your worship that you want to share God’s saving love with others—you can’t keep it in.
During my seminary internship 42 years ago in Chicago I had the opportunity to get to know an old retired Deaconess by the name of Sister Metta Hagen. An interesting thing about Sister Metta was that she turned 100 that year; she had also been my grandmother’s personal missionary nurse when my mother was born as a missionary's child in Madagascar.
Sister Metta had been through many trials in her years as a missionary. She had seen much heartbreak and death as a nurse working among the native people. When I met her she was almost completely blind; was also very hard of hearing. She sat mostly in silence each day.
Yet whenever I would visit her; when I persistently shouted my name until she knew who I was; she would then sit up with a glow in her being and say in her Norwegian brogue, “Oh Natan, I’m so tankful. I’m so tankful to God for all his blessings.”
Sister Metta knew what it was like to be in the slimy mud and clay of life. Yet as she waited patiently trusting God he lifted her up time and again; he put her feet back on the solid ground. Her response then was one of thankfulness; service; witness for Jesus.
It has often been said that a person only grows when they go through a crisis (challenge) in life. When life is going well you often don't feel you need to rely on someone greater than yourself; you feel you don’t need the church (the Christian community). You feel you can stay the same; you can handle life all by yourself.
Remember however that the word crisis comes from the word crossroad. When you go through a crisis (problem; hurt) you face a crossroad with two choices. Will you trust in God; wait patiently for him; rely on believers (the church) to help you? Either that or will you put your hope in nothing; rely on yourself; choose a life of bitterness/despair?
The true message (assurance) of Psalm 40 is that God is there for you no matter what you are going through; no matter what may come in the days (years) to come. God will never leave you; he will never forsake you.
Jesus loves you with a love (grace) that is beyond comprehension. He knows your suffering and pain; he knows your joy and celebrations. He simply asks you to call out to him in faith; to be real; to tell him how you really feel; to let him hear all your emotions/feelings.
Remember that as you are real—then Jesus will also be real to you. He will hear your cry; he will set your foot upon the solid rock. It is his promise to you.