What a contrast to yesterday’s Psalm! Today David declares that God has ‘put a new song in my mouth’ (v3).The Psalm begins with a statement of patiently waiting. My NKJV study bible notes comment that this is not about ‘waiting and waiting’, but is a statement about the fact that David waited solely on the Lord.
David’s confidence and trust in the Lord is rewarded and he declares ‘And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my steps’. God is always faithful to His word. If we wholly trust in Him, then He will hear our prayers.
Deuteronomy 4: 29 ‘But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.’
Proverbs 8: 17 ‘I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.’
Jeremiah 29: 13-14 ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.
The Psalm continues with proclamations of God’s blessings for those who trust Him and that His thoughts towards us cannot be numbered (v4-5). David continues by reminding himself that God does not require sacrifice and offering (thank God that Jesus Christ is the only sacrifice and ‘offering’ that we need in order that we may come before Him) and points towards Ps 51:16-17:‘You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.’
What richness and depth is contained in this wonderful Psalm. I have only covered the first 8 verses and have run out of words, so let me finish with the last two verses from the Message bible:
‘But all who are hunting for you—oh, let them sing and be happy. Let those who know what you’re all about tell the world you’re great and not quitting. And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing: make something of me. You can do it; you’ve got what it takes.’
Praise be to God!
***
Father, by your Holy Spirit at work in me, please help me to develop a brokenness of spirit and develop a contrite heart, that I may never give you cause to despise me. To your glory.
Amen.