I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! 5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. 6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” 9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. 11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! 12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! 14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!” 16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” 17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! Meditation God’s covenant care will rescue His people. God hears our cries and “knows how to rescue the godly from trials” (2 Peter 2:9). Praise marks the person who trusts God for rescue. David begins with grateful praise (1-8), testifies to unrestrained praise (9-10), and promises praise to people who trust God for rescue (16). Rejoicing in God’s rescue praises our God of rescue. Petition is part of rejoicing because hope is founded on God’s historic faithfulness. David appeals for urgent help (17). His petition for evil to be overcome and enemies to be overthrown (14-15) is grounded in the fact that God will hear and God will act. David waited patiently in the past and God rescued him from the pit of his problems. God set David’s feet on a rock and put a new song in His mouth (1-3) and David knows God will rescue again. Christians know God’s guarantee to rescue is sealed by the fact that Jesus was not rescued on the cross. Jesus died to rescue us from the penalty and power of sin. Jesus was put in the pit of the grave so our feet of faith can be put upon the Rock and a new song of salvation can be put into our mouth. Jesus was not rescued from evil to seal God’s victory over evil, fueling prayers of petition and praise for rescue. One day there will be no more evil or death (Revelation 21:1-6). Until that day, Christians rejoice in the already rescue of our King and trust the ultimate rescue He will soon bring. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s psalm, especially the rejoicing in rescue marked with both praise and petition? -Where do you look for rescue from the pain and problems of life outside of God and His covenant faithfulness? How is that working for you? -How does the faithfulness of God demonstrated in the person and work of Jesus solidify your confidence in God, knowing He hears your prayers and will be faithful to all His promises? Where (specifically) do you need to look to the Lord alone for rescue? Take a moment to pray and turn your heart to Him. Key Verse 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 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. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God…”
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AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-four years of marriage with Lisa and together they have four adventurous children. Mitchell is a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, TX. |