The Praiseworthy Deliverer
What is the proper response to God's deliverance? If you have experienced God's hand of deliverance in your life, what is the proper response you should give? Today, we'll see three points in the text as David teaches us:
The Deliverance by the Praiseworthy One (Psalm 40:1-3)
The Trust of the Delivered (Psalm 40:4-5)
The Delight of the Delivered (Psalm 40:6-8)
Deliverance: We can see David's patient waiting and cry for help. God's response is David's deliverance from the pit of destruction and the miry bog.
The new song of praise and its impact on others in some supporting references: 1 Samuel 30:6 - The Amalekites raid on Ziklag and capture of David's people. David's distress and strengthening in the Lord. Jeremiah 38 - Jeremiah rescued from the cistern. Jonah 1 - His experience with the sailors. Exodus 14:31 - Israel's deliverance and fear of the Lord.
Trust: Those who trust only in God are blessed. Trusting in the Lord means not trusting in other things.
John Calvin says, "David here relates what ground for good hope his deliverance would give to all the faithful, inasmuch as setting aside all the elements of the world, they would thereby be encouraged to commit themselves with confidence to the protection of God, persuaded not only that they are happy who trust in Him alone, but that all other expectations at variance with this are deceitful and cursed."
Delight: David acknowledges that God is not delighted in sacrifices and offerings but in an open ear.
What should our Response be?
In conclusion, we've seen deliverance by the praiseworthy one, the trust of the delivered, and the delight of the delivered. Our response should be to praise God for His deliverance, trust Him in our trials, and proclaim His deeds and thoughts toward us. God's thoughts toward us are beyond number, demonstrating His love. His desire is not in sacrifices but in open ears and hearts desiring Him. Proclaim the Excellencies of Christ, who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.