My Help and My Deliverer
Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. 11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. 17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
A glorious morning unfolds before me, perfect and peaceful, unmarred by failure. The sky is clear and blue. The horizon is a soft, blushing pink, enhanced by a misty fog. The distant hills and trees are shaded a dusky blue in the misty morning coolness. The morning is ringing with the warbling, twittering, chirping of birds. The grass glows with millions of dew droplets sparkling in the morning light. The pink horizon above the distant, dusky hills gradually fades into a glowing orange sphere that becomes brighter and brighter.
I stand in awe of God. My heart is thrilled at the beauty spread out before me. I am also thrilled at what God has done in my life, and the beauty He has created out of ashes.
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. God has brought me up out of the pit of despair and discouragement. He has set my feet upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, and He has established my goings. He knows the plans He has for me. His thoughts and His ways are much higher than mine.
He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. I desire that God will be glorified through the work He has done and is continuing to do in my life. Many, O Lord, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
I delight to do Thy will, O God: yea, Thy law is within my heart. It is truly my delight to do the will of God; to love Him with my whole heart, soul, strength, and mind; to obey His commandments from my heart.
I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation: I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation. It is such a blessing to have deep and edifying conversations with my brothers and sisters in the Lord, and to share together what the Lord is doing in our lives. It is a great strengthening to my faith.
Withhold not Thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth continually preserve me. Temptations and hard tests are a very real thing in life; the struggle to keep my heart with a diligence, the battle against stubborn pride, and the urge to utter hasty words of frustration. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
The sun has risen above the distant hills and the countryside is now glowing gloriously. The mist has faded into the woods and the distant dusky blue hills and trees have exchanged their robes for vivid shades of green intermixed with hints of red and brown. The sparkling droplets of dew are dazzling in the brilliant sunlight.
Let those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: let such as love Thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
