Psalm 40:1-2

Psalm 40 was made popular by King David long before it was made popular by U2. "I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry". This is the first step in a beautiful, poetic, and short description of the story of God's action in human life. This is the trademark of human life - waiting and crying. That might sound dark to some, but to those who have lived through it, who are familiar with grief, struggle, and tribulation, the psalmist has connected to our very core with his first line.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry." The psalmist suggests a God who hears our cries and then springs into action. It's much more than a sympathetic ear: He stoops to us.

As is so often the case, however, God goes above and beyond. He doesn't merely stopp to hear our cries; He rescues us from our despair.

"He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God" (vv. 2-3). Here, the psalmist is describing the profound result of the human interaction with God. As always, just as it is God who stoops to those of us who cry, God is again the actor here. He drew me up...He set my feet...He made my steps...He put a new song in my mouth. Our action is to wait and to cry. God's action is to stoop down and rescue. We go from existing in the pit of destruction and the mud of the swamp, to having our feet set on a rock, our footsteps firm, and with a new song on our lips.

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,