When You are Down in the Pits

The Prayers of People in Trouble  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Weekly Devo for Sunday 011721. A study of Psalm 40 with a focus on the prayer for being lifted up from down in the pit. Our witness and celebration begins when God lifts us up.

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The prayers of people in trouble: When you are down in the Pits Read: Psalm 40:1-17 Consider: Hindsight, I am told, is 20/20. But things are not so clear when we look to the future, especially when we are at the bottom of the proverbial pit - a miserable place from which there is no hope of escape. A place in which we are likely to die, if no one comes to rescue us. It is difficult from this vantage point to see anything but doom, despair, and agony. David was no longer in the pit, so he composed this song with 20/20 vision. He had patiently waited for the Lord while in the pit of destruction. It was from there that he had cried out to the Lord. And he was still there when God heard his cry. How do we know that God heard him? Because God lifted Him up out of the muddy, sticky sludge. He knew that God had heard his cry because his feet were now on solid ground. Instead of continuing his song of lament, he now sang a new song, one that praised God for his deliverance. David hoped that many people would hear this new song, and would, through it, see what God had done for him. He hoped that this would lead them to begin fearing the Lord. He hoped that his testimony would move them to put their own trust in the Lord. He pointed to his own rescue, proclaiming that anyone could be just as blessed if they only trusted in the Lord. Even if they were stuck in the mire of the pits bottom. They only needed to cry out and wait; instead of turning to the proud or listening to the lies of those who would offer them help, but had no power or ability to rescue anyone from the bottom of a pit. After declaring this truth, David gave voice to that new song of praise. He sang, "O Lord my God, I am in awe of the wonders that you have done. When I consider the truth of what you really think about us, I am astounded. There is nothing to which I can compare to You. Even if I were to try, I'd run out of words before doing so adequately." David also pondered aloud how he could best thank God for rescuing him. Sacrifices and offerings were also wholly inadequate, but an honest delight in seeking God's will and letting His Law rule David's heart would please the Lord. With this in mind, David committed himself to proclaiming to everyone what God had done. He, like those with good news, shouted from the rooftop, that God is faithful and He is sure to save. David committed himself to telling everyone about God's lovingkindness. David was a realist. He would likely find himself in a pit again. Like Isaiah, he lived among people with unclean lips. They influenced him more than he wanted to admit. But the real problem was his own iniquities. His eyes would grow dim, his heart would grow faint. He would find himself crying out for deliverance. But he would do so with the confidence that God would not withhold His compassion. His prayer for those who sought to kick him while he was down was not for their deliverance, but that God would come against them, and that they would be ashamed of their opposition. But his prayer for those who, like himself, sought God's salvation, was that they would rejoice and be glad when that time came. That they would magnify the Lord. Prayer: Lord, be mindful of us. May Your deliverance come quickly as we wait upon You. Amen.
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