Psalm 40
What is the essence and focus of religion? For many people it is ourselves, what we do either ceremonially or morally. But surely God should be at the focal point of faith.
This Psalm weaves together three themes of faith. Together they put man and God in the proper relation to each other. Let us note them well.
Memory of God’s deeds
The Psalm’s starting point and foundation is memory of what God has done.
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure” (1-2).
How often do we mentally review what God has done for us? How often do we count our blessings? Are we not more in the habit of listing our complaints? The key word of Deuteronomy (occurring 16 times) is “remember.” Too often we attempt to establish faith on the basis of our own will to believe. Biblical faith was and is grounded in the knowledge of God’s past deeds.
If we want to grow in faith, we must spend more time in study of God’s past deeds and more time in thought on what he has done for us personally.
Praise
On this foundation of memory is built a life of praise.
3He 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. 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. 10I 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. (3, 9-10)
It was not primarily animal sacrifices that God desired, but a life of praising obedience.
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. 7Then 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.” (6-8).
Praise must come before evangelism, or evangelism will be unsuccessful. Praise must also follow evangelism, or evangelism has been unsuccessful. Those who have really accepted the message will continually say, “Great is the Lord” (16).
Dependence
The themes of memory and praise are summed up in the third theme, dependence. The life of praise is a life of dependence.
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! 5You 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. 11As 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. 17As 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! (4-5, 11-12, 17)
The clearest form of praise is when we admit our dependence. As Franz Pieper said, there are only two religions in the world. There is the religion that focuses on what we must do for God, and the biblical religion, which emphasises what God has done for us.
Many in ancient Israel had abandoned the life of memory and praise. They were proud. They were counting on their offerings to the gods instead of giving thanks to the God who had done so much for them.
Many today want to bring God perfect ceremonies or perfect morality. We will do neither. Even if we could it would be nothing to our credit.
What God wants from us is not perfection but humility: an open ear, a willing heart (6-8), an acknowledgment of our sin (12), an acknowledgment of our spiritual bankruptcy (17). In exchange for our acknowledgment of need he will give deliverance. We give only praise.