Here's the final installment on the study on verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 40.
All other parts of this and the first and second study can be found here.
Read Psalm 40 here.
The trust
“Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies”
So we can see what or even who the ‘new song’ is and also how this new song changes us and the importance of how we tell people about it.
The second half of this verse actually reflects what we’ve just looked at. ‘Nor such as turn aside to lies’ indicates the error and the sorrow that lies in straying from the narrow path and being seduced and distracted by idols and hankering after our personal ‘Egypt’.
When we focus on the cross and mortify the flesh we can remain undistracted by man ‘the proud’. Those who seek to undermine Holy scripture with their vain glorious ideas which promote themselves and science as the new gods.
It is so easy to get drawn so into apologetics and defence of the bible against the foreign gods of this day and age we forget to go on the offence with the gospel. Instead of trying to fend off such criticisms and attacks shouldn’t we unashamedly profess the gospel instead.
It is a weak church that apologises for Jesus Christ and the God of creation. There is nothing to apologise for.
We should instead take our new song, and profess it to all. The apologising should come from the repenting sinner. Romans 1: 16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
But it is the first half of this verse which sums up this study.
“Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust...”
Happy is the man who trusts. Blessed means ‘happy’. Utter trust in the Lord produces happiness. Afflictions, persecution and trials are all part of God’s purposes – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
There are many references to the ‘blessed’ in the psalms. David was a man seeking happiness in the things of the Lord, as was Asaph. The formula can seem complicated. But it is simple, oh so simple.
Trust in the Lord.
We make it so hard for ourselves don’t we? When the answer is so straightforward.
Do you ever kick yourself spiritually for not trusting the Lord? Do you ever get frustrated by your doubts? Do you ever say “...I believe, help thou my unbelief”
He is the creator God. He is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (in all things). His promises are perfect. He is perfect. He is salvation. He is love. His word became flesh and saved us from an eternity of punishment.
Do you feel stupid for not trusting Him!? I know I do!!! We trust other people, we trust science, we trust in ‘fate’. We even trust ourselves more than the God who created us!
It is simple, don’t make it more complicated than it is. Trust in the Lord, sing the new song, mortify the flesh, repent, be saved and be truly, wonderfully saved and eternally happy.
In John Henry Sammis’ words “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
Amen
All other parts of this and the first and second study can be found here.
Read Psalm 40 here.
The trust
“Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies”
So we can see what or even who the ‘new song’ is and also how this new song changes us and the importance of how we tell people about it.
The second half of this verse actually reflects what we’ve just looked at. ‘Nor such as turn aside to lies’ indicates the error and the sorrow that lies in straying from the narrow path and being seduced and distracted by idols and hankering after our personal ‘Egypt’.
When we focus on the cross and mortify the flesh we can remain undistracted by man ‘the proud’. Those who seek to undermine Holy scripture with their vain glorious ideas which promote themselves and science as the new gods.
It is so easy to get drawn so into apologetics and defence of the bible against the foreign gods of this day and age we forget to go on the offence with the gospel. Instead of trying to fend off such criticisms and attacks shouldn’t we unashamedly profess the gospel instead.
It is a weak church that apologises for Jesus Christ and the God of creation. There is nothing to apologise for.
We should instead take our new song, and profess it to all. The apologising should come from the repenting sinner. Romans 1: 16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
But it is the first half of this verse which sums up this study.
“Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust...”
Happy is the man who trusts. Blessed means ‘happy’. Utter trust in the Lord produces happiness. Afflictions, persecution and trials are all part of God’s purposes – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
There are many references to the ‘blessed’ in the psalms. David was a man seeking happiness in the things of the Lord, as was Asaph. The formula can seem complicated. But it is simple, oh so simple.
Trust in the Lord.
We make it so hard for ourselves don’t we? When the answer is so straightforward.
Do you ever kick yourself spiritually for not trusting the Lord? Do you ever get frustrated by your doubts? Do you ever say “...I believe, help thou my unbelief”
He is the creator God. He is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (in all things). His promises are perfect. He is perfect. He is salvation. He is love. His word became flesh and saved us from an eternity of punishment.
Do you feel stupid for not trusting Him!? I know I do!!! We trust other people, we trust science, we trust in ‘fate’. We even trust ourselves more than the God who created us!
It is simple, don’t make it more complicated than it is. Trust in the Lord, sing the new song, mortify the flesh, repent, be saved and be truly, wonderfully saved and eternally happy.
In John Henry Sammis’ words “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
Amen
