Psalm 40 - part 2

As I was sat sipping my coffee I browsed through the 'audience' statistics, which never cease to surprise me. My blog doesn't get read by that many people. I've yet to beak a 1000 views total. However I'm not bothered about that - those who read it read it and I hope they are are blessed or encouraged somehow. What thrills me is seeing where the hits have come from - worldwide! Just this morning I noticed 3 hits from Iran, a country where I cannot imagine the gospel is readily accepted. If one post was read there then all the unread posts were worth it!

So here's part 2 of the first study in Psalm 40. Read the first part here.


David’s prayer.


So why was David writing such a psalm? He was in trouble (again).

The miry clay of verse 2 is an indication that he had been thrown into a spiritual, or even physical ‘pit’. Matthew Henry, on this psalm says this:

“We have reason to think it was some inward disquiet and perplexity of spirit that was now his greatest grievance. Despondency of spirit under the sense of God’s withdrawal and prevailing doubts and fears about the eternal state are indeed a horrible pit and a miry clay, and have been so for many a child of God.”

While this explains the reason for David’s sense of waiting and his reason for crying out – his faith in God’s longsuffering and faithfulness to him doesn’t dwindle. Neither did the Lord Jesus waiver one iota in the garden of Gethsemane or on the cross itself. He was burdened and tested and hurting, but his faith remained in God’s perfect will.

So as Jesus was bogged down by our sins in that garden his prayers reflected that he indeed waited on the Lord as he subjected himself utterly and fully to the Father’s will to pour that cup of wrath fully on Him.

Jesus prayed because he was anxious.

Jesus asked for the burden to be lifted.

Jesus subjected himself to God’s will.

David’s psalm 41 reflects many aspects of his own and also Jesus’ Gethsemane prayers.

a) Both present their worries. Their anxieties and spiritual concerns are presented openly and unreservedly. In our private prayers we should be unabashed in our repentance, praise and supplications.

Hebrews 5: 7 tells us “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;”

Phil. 4: 6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

b) They pray for the burden to be lifted/eased. Provided we pray with contrite hearts we can ask God for anything. We should pray expectantly, anticipating God’s intercession in our problematic lives. The prayers won’t always be answered how we would like them to be, but they will be answered according to His will.

Mark 14: 36 “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

c) David and Jesus subject themselves utterly to God’s will. They accept that God’s perfect will is what matters and that their feelings, emotions and discomforts are not what matters most. They know that God will be glorified in their subjection to His Sovereign will.

John 17: 1 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee”

Subjecting ourselves to God’s will may not be pleasant an experience bodily, but from it comes great spiritual growth and maturity. God proves His faithfulness daily and our unbelief is of us, never as a consequence of His failing us.


Next: God will come. Read it here.