Psalm 40 - Many Will See it
By Bunni Pounds
*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.
The promise of the transformation of our lives is not just for us – it is for the others who will see it and be changed. We so often lose perspective on the effect of our great salvation upon the world around us; but the beginning of Psalm 40 is a promise.
“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.” (verses 1-3)
Check out the steps of this powerful promise here –
We wait on the Lord
God hears our cry
God brings us up out of the pit
God puts a new song in our mouths
Then…….
Many will see it and fear and trust in the Lord
Notice here that God is doing everything – but all we have to do to get this fruitful life is to “wait patiently for the Lord.”
To me that is such a powerful promise that as I wait on Him, God is transforming my life, and giving me something meaningful to say that can ultimately change someone’s life.
My words can’t change anyone on their own, but a “new song” from Him can bring transformation to other’s hearts.
What a powerful revelation that David gathered here on the power of waiting on God. It is the most powerful thing we can do – but yet it normally is the last thing that we do.
”Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” (verse 4)
The highest affection that we can give the Lord is to put our trust in HIM above every world system, above every human endeavor, above every leader – listening to His voice of truth and not bending to the lies.
A song by Casting Crowns says it this way:
”But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, Do not be afraid!
The voice of truth says, This is for My glory
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.”
We are in a place in our world now where we must have discernment every day and be tuned into the voice of the Lord. We can’t just listen to the “proud” on our TVs, radios, podcasts, and the airways alone - but we must discern what is truth and what is lies.
This takes us pressing into God and leaning on Him in greater dependence than ever before.
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.” (verses 6-8)
I remember the day when I realized by revelation that God doesn’t need my good works – He just desires my heart. Coming from an extremely religious church background – that set me free to let Him change me.
This section of Psalm 40 prophetically speaks of the day when the commandments of God would be written on the hearts of men and through the burnt offering of Jesus given up for us – our lives could truly be transformed from the inside out.
Regardless of what we see many times in our modern churches - having our names in the Lamb’s book of life is supposed to change our lives – we are not supposed to remain the same. We are different from the world. By not understanding that, we can literally walk out of lifestyles of sin – we underestimate the power of the gospel and the new covenant of the blood of Jesus.
Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Jesus said it this way – laying out the fact that we needed to be born again by the Spirit of God:
John 3:3-6 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
When we have been changed through the transformation of our hearts – we start proclaiming God’s goodness. I must question people if there is not something in them that wants to tell the good news regardless of how long it has been since they initially experienced salvation.
David put it this way…..
“I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, this You Yourself know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.” (verses 9-10)
A few months ago – my 24-year-old son, Israel, sat down with a new friend from work who said he was a Christian but when they started talking together, Israel realized that he had some bad theology and became increasingly worried that he didn’t understand truth.
The young man thought that even though his wife was getting into Eastern Meditation and more New Age philosophies that she would find her way to heaven still.
Israel, who by nature is shy, got extremely bold and laid out the whole plan of salvation to this young man with clarity and let him know that Jesus was the ONLY WAY to salvation for himself and his wife.
I had a proud mama moment when Teo, Israel’s wife, told me about his boldness. His only response when I asked him about it was, “Of course I told him the truth, Mom, and he heard it. I made sure it was clear.”
Our salvation and relationship with God will make us unable to “conceal” His faithfulness, His salvation, and His lovingkindness, and truth. We will be led to “proclaim the good news of righteousness,” regardless of our personality type. If we are not willing to “give an account” for the truth – then we need to question how great our salvation is in our lives. Have we truly been born again? Do we know Jesus?
Psalm 81:10 says, “I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
God is faithful to fill our mouth when we yield to Him as an open vessel to proclaim His goodness and mercies.
David ends Psalm 40 with an exhortation for us who are trusting in God to praise Him in everything and for us to remember His salvation that we have been given.
“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The Lord be magnified!’”" (verse 16)
My heart cry is that people will see the salvation of God in my life – not just through the words I say but the way I live my life. That “many will see it and put their trust in the Lord.”
That is a fruitful fulfilling life that will impact change on the world. As I wait on Him – He fills my mouth and causes me to bear much fruit.
Many will see it! That is the promise.
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