Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Psalms 3 (7)
Pray Psalm 40.1-3.
I waited patiently for the LORD;
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.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.
Sing Psalm 40.1-3.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth )
I waited patiently for God; He inclined and heard my cry,
lifted me up above the sod, set me on a Rock on high!
New songs in my mouth He gave; may He through me many save.
Read Psalm 40.1-17; meditate on verses 9, 10, 16, 17.
Preparation
1. What had God done for David?
2. How did David respond?
Meditation
The writer of the book of Hebrews spotted the Lord Jesus in this psalm, as he notes in Hebrews 10.6-10. He followed the Septuagint (the pre-Christian translation of the Old Testament into Greek) which he considered to be more reliable than the Hebrew text, especially at verse 5 (Ps. 40.6). Christ’s body was the final sacrifice by the offering of which all other sacrifices were eliminated. And, despite the pain and suffering, Jesus delighted to do the will of God, His heart being filled with the Law of the LORD (v. 8).
That sacrifice not only achieved the forgiveness of our sins but the righteousness we need to enjoy the favor and Presence of the LORD. This was Good News for David, which he gladly proclaimed (vv. 9, 10, 16, 17), and it’s Good News for us as well.
God has, through our Lord Jesus Christ, lifted us up out of the mire of lies and sin and set us on the Rock of Jesus, giving us a new song of praise to sing for His glory (vv. 1-3). The more we trust and obey the Lord, the more we realize how constant and essential is His Presence with us (vv. 4, 5). We must not hide His righteousness nor remain silent about His magnificent work (vv. 9, 10), but seek His mercies and His lovingkindness and truth that we may escape the snares of sin (vv. 11, 12). Thus, we cry to the Lord for help (v. 13), and we rejoice in His saving work, which we proclaim by our lives and words (vv. 16, 17).
God’s thoughts toward us are constant and sustaining (v. 17). O, that we might think as often on Him! Then surely our witness would become more consistent and effective.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
God required Jesus to be a sacrifice and an offering to pay the penalty for our sins, iniquities, and transgressions. We might like to think that one word would suffice for our malfeasance—it does not—however, these three are a good start. To them we could add: offences, misdeeds, trespasses, depravities, and much wickedness.
And yet the psalmist was able to pray: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require” (Ps. 40.6). Not from us—only from His beloved Son.
But as happens with so many things that God lovingly tells us to do, we choose to do the opposite. Instead of love, appreciation, and obedience, we offer paltry substitutes for what He does desire and require. King Saul did the same. Instead of being obedient to the Word of the LORD, he decided to offer sacrifices instead. Listen to what God thought of that, as He instructed the prophet Samuel to tell Saul:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He also has rejected you from being king” (1 Sam. 15.22, 23).
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice” (Prov. 21.3).
Because of Jesus’ great, awful, required sacrifice, and His perfect obedience to God’s will, we too, must acquire, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the same attitude and attribute of obedience to God as Christ had. Our prayer and heart’s desire should be thus: “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Ps. 40.8).
There are no substitutes—no matter how sacrificial or pragmatic—for pure obedience.
Paul, whose goal was to imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11.1) wrote these words to set our path toward obedience:
“Whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue and
if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do,
and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4.8, 9).
“Let all those who seek You
Rejoice and be glad in You;
Let such as love Your salvation say continually,
‘The LORD be magnified!’” (Ps. 40.16).
Proclaimed and magnified through my obedience to Him.
“God’s thoughts toward us are constant and sustaining.
O, that we might think as often on Him!”
Reflection
1. What are the keys to obeying God as Jesus did? How would you explain these to a new believer?
2. How can delighting to do God’s will become more a part of your daily walk with Him?
3. Spend some time in prayer meditating on God thinking about you. Would you expect this exercise to increase your love for Him? Explain.
If Christ has triumphed over our spiritual enemies, then we, through him, shall be more than conquerors. This may encourage all that seek God and love his salvation, to rejoice in him, and to praise him. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Psalm 40.11-17
Pray Psalm 40.9-17.
Praise and thank the Lord for what He has done for you. Ask Him to give you opportunities today to talk to others about Jesus.
Sing Psalm 40.9-17.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth )
LORD, Your truth will I proclaim to Your people gathered ’round,
Nor will I my lips restrain—let Your precious ways resound!
Of Your saving grace and Word I would speak, most loving LORD.
Keep Your mercy not from me; let Your love and truth prevail.
Evil and iniquity make my trembling heart to fail.
LORD, be pleased to rescue me! Let my shelter with You be.
Bring to shame my ev’ry foe, all who would my life destroy;
bring them down to scorn and woe who at my hurt sing for joy.
Let them come to grief and shame who heap scorn upon my name.
Let them shout for joy and sing who in saving grace delight!
Let them praise to Jesus bring, though affliction be their plight.
Christ, our help, our Savior, He! Of us ever mindful be!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
For more teaching about the subject of this series, “Jesus throughout the Scriptures”, download our free ReVision study, “We Would See Jesus”, by clicking here.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
