A Psalm A Day
For some time, I have been reading a Psalm each day and taking time to really meditate on each one individually. In the case of Psalm 119, I just took one section each day.
Today I came to Psalm 40, one that is very familiar to me. It was really special to me when I was going through my divorce and the early days of single-parenting.
Yet, isn’t it wonderful how God reveals Himself anew each time we go to His word?
Even though I have been marking up my Bible for years, I find that looking for some key things helps me really consider who God is, what His plan is for me, and how I should respond.
Discover With Me
If you’re needing to give your Bible study or prayer time a boost, perhaps you’d like to work through this with me to get some new ideas. Or just to be encouraged to stick with regular time in the Word.
While I love the digital Bible options, I have recently gone back to a paper Bible for this early part of my morning study. Whatever you use, I hope you’ll mark it up with what the Lord is teaching you today.
So grab your Bible:
- Ask God to reveal Himself clearly to you through His word.
- Read through Psalm 40 thoroughly at least once before going on.
- The psalm starts quickly, telling us how God acts. Highlight or underline in a special color all the actions God takes toward the psalmist (representing all God’s people). You’ll find them interspersed throughout.
- What stands out to you in verse 2? Has He done this for you? Make a quick note of at least one time.
- Verse 3 tells us the kind of song God loves. Have we made worship too complicated by involving our preferences instead of what pleases Him? Ask God to help you sing praises to Him every day.
- In verses 5-6, 9-11, and 16-17, we find characteristics of God. These are not actions, but descriptive words that describe who He is and what He is like. Highlight or underline in a special color God’s attributes mentioned by the psalmist. How does this impact your song, your prayer, your overall attitude?
- Throughout the psalm, note the responses of God’s people. You’ll find them in verses 3-4, 7-10, and 16. Are these your responses to the Lord’s faithfulness and deliverance?
My Big Take Away
One thing that stood out to me for the first time today is in verse 2. I quote this to myself from time to time as a reminder of where God has brought me. Today I realized that He didn’t just draw me up from the pit. He didn’t just get my head above water, leaving me there to get completely out on my own.
When God saves us, it is a completed action and it is secure. Notice how and where He sets our feet. On a rock. On THE ROCK. And He makes our steps secure. We can proceed in complete confidence.
I’d love to hear from you about how the Lord spoke to you through Psalm 40, so drop a comment.
PRAYER:
Praise you, Lord, for who you are and thank you for giving us your word so that we can know you better. Thank you for hearing us cry out to you. How grateful we are that you not only lift our head out of the stormy sea, but you have pulled us OUT and set us on the Solid Rock, if we are in Christ. May this knowledge help us walk in victory today.
Here are the attributes, actions and responses I found.
Attributes:
- Hears (v1, 6)
- Deliverer (vv 2,
- Wondrous deeds (v5)
- Considerate of us (v5)
- None like Him (v5)
- Abundant beyond description (v5)
- Delights in obedience more than sacrifice (v6-8)
- Knows all things (v9)
- Faithfulness (v10, 11)
- Steadfast love (v10, 11)
- Mercy (v11)
- Great (v16)
- Help (v17)
- Deliverer (v2, 9, 10, 17)
- Personal (my…) (v5, 8, 17)
Actions
- Inclined (stretched out) - v1
- Heard - v1
- Drew me up and out - v2
- Set my feet on rock - v2
- Made way secure - v2
- Put new song in my heart - v3
- Multiplied deeds and thoughts toward me - v5
- Will not restrain mercy from me - v11
- Will preserve me - v11
Responses of the faithful
- Wait patiently (v1)
- See and fear (v3)
- Put trust in the Lord (v3)
- Make the Lord his trust (v4)
- Does not turn to the proud/wicked (v4)
- Proclaim / tell of His wondrous deeds (v5)
- Come to the Lord (v7)
- Sees himself in the Word (v7)
- Delight to do His will (v7)
- Hides the law in his heart (v8)
- Tells about God’s deliverance and holds nothing back (v10)
- Faithfulness
- Salvation
- Steadfast love
- Rejoices and is glad in the Lord (v16)
- Say continually, “Great is the Lord (v16)
- Recognizes weakness (v17)
- Recognizes God’s ability and willingness to help (v17)
To learn more about god. God bless