Psalm 40: 1 – 17
A skilled workman
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, tThey are more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” 9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know. 10 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. 11 Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; Therefore, my heart fails me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me! 14 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion who seek to destroy my life; Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish me evil. 15 Let them be confounded because of their shame, who say to me, “Aha, aha!” 16 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!” 17 But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.
As the U.S. economy begins to show signs of improvement, executives say they need a workforce fully equipped with skills beyond just the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic (the three Rs) to grow their businesses. Skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation (the four Cs) will become even more important to organizations in the future.
As the current administration is proposing sweeping education reform, executives are shedding light on a set of skills—the four Cs—that have been identified by major players in industry as being crucial to workforce preparedness and business success.
“As we move toward reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and common state standards, it is clear education reform must focus on fusing the three Rs and four Cs if every student is to succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s world”.
According to the survey results, executives said that within their organizations these skills and competencies are considered priorities for employee development, talent management and succession planning. In fact, the majority agreed that their employees are measured in communication skills (80.4%), critical thinking (72.4%), collaboration (71.2%), and creativity (57.3%) during annual performance appraisals. In addition, job applicants are assessed in these areas during the hiring process.
Now, as a human resource manager how would you feel about a candidate who Is proficient (scores 100%) in every area. You might respond, ‘Not humanely possible.’ I would say, ‘You are right. No human fits that category. Yet there Is One Who Is alive and does fit every category at 100 %. He Is the perfectly skilled workman. You know His Name. He Is ‘All Powerful’ and ‘All knowing’. Yes He Is The Holy Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The key verse that stuck out to me in today’s scripture is verse 5 “Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done.”
Let us take some time and watch our Skilled Precious Holy Spirit work through His Holy Word.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
This Psalm is offered to the person responsible for the sacred music, or the choirmaster, and is of the Davidic collection. ‘To (or ‘for’) David’ may indicate that it was dedicated to David, written for the Davidic house, or even written by David himself.
The Psalm in its final form appears to have been presented by David to the Chief Musician for use in the worship in the Tabernacle. It very much reflects a certain period in his life, when he experienced God’s merciful deliverances only to find himself then plunged into even worse troubles. (1 Samuel 19.1, “Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted greatly in David.”).
The Psalm begins with a cry of triumph as he is delivered from some predicament, which has resulted in his being inspired to compose and sing a new song (40.1-3), and it continues with a period of consolidation in which he can rejoice in God’s works (40.4-5) leading up to his dedication of himself to follow God’s will as revealed in His Instruction (40.6-8), something which results in his declaring God’s faithfulness to all the assembled people (40.9-10).
But then comes a period of trouble in which he is very much aware that his own sins are overwhelming him, a period in which his enemies are seeking to take full advantage of him, and he brings the Psalm to its conclusion in the confidence that God will deliver him out of it, in spite of his undeserving, because He is his Helper and Deliverer.
It is a reminder that there are many ups and downs in life, and of our need amid them to give ourselves wholly to God, whatever the future holds. It is a reminder that while such dedication might lead us into even more troubles, it also certain that through such troubles we will learn that God is our Helper and Deliverer too. The idea that God’s people must rejoice in such tribulation, that is tribulation that brings them closer to God, is prominent in the New Testament (James 1.2-12, “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.).
The Psalm follows a regular pattern found in many prayers, especially those of spiritual people facing severe difficulties who do not just want to be launching straight into a begging session. It is a pattern of true prayer. It begins with a consideration of God’s mercies, accompanied by an expression of gratitude for them, followed by a statement of confidence in His faithfulness. It then results in a rededication to His service, and an assertion by the worshipper that he will give faithful testimony to others about what God has done, before launching into a declaration of an awareness of present sin and into a plea for help in the difficulties being faced. And it ends with a call for God not to delay in acting in mercy, but to help him despite his undeserving. It is thus a well-rounded prayer.
We find here a great pattern for prayer. I suggest you modify it to meet your needs:
. David rejoices in his past deliverance because he believes that it will cause many to trust in YHWH (40.1-3).
. He declares that the man who does so trust in YHWH, and lives, accordingly, will experience God’s wonderful working on his behalf (40.4-5).
. He recognizes that for a man to express his gratitude to God religious observances are not enough, and that what God requires of him is total obedience to His Will, something to which he gladly accedes (40.6-8).
. He assures God that he has been faithful in his testimony towards his fellow believers about God’s Goodness and Faithfulness towards them, which is of course an essential part of his obedience (40.9-10).
. Having thereby established his gratitude and loyalty and the faithfulness of his testimony about God, he now seeks God’s aid in helping him with regard to his own sinfulness and prays also for assistance against those who are his enemies (40.11-15).
. He ends up by depicting who are the truly righteous, to whom he knows YHWH will provide help, and while not seeing himself as comparing with them, nevertheless looks to God for him also to help him (40.16-17).
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 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. 3 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.
As David looks back to past trial he describes how he had waited patiently and trustingly for YHWH, and how YHWH had bent down to him and had heard his cry. He had lifted him from the ‘pit of tumult’ and from the miry clay and had set his feet on a rock and had established his goings.
The picture is a vivid one of a man struggling in a mix-up and being rescued from it by being drawn out onto a rock. But the mess is an entanglement of worldly problems, being faced up to in a tumultuous world that would seek to drag us down. It can however be any troubles with which we might be beset as we struggle to face up to the predicament of life. And the promise is that, as He did with David, God will lift us out from them to a place of safety and security. He will set our feet on a rock, where the ground is firm beneath our feet, so that we might continue securely.
The result was that David, ‘the sweet Psalmist of Israel’, found himself with a new song on his mouth, a song of praise to ‘our God’. The use of ‘our’ indicates that he wants all to join with him in praise. For his purpose in the song is that men may see what has happened and be filled with reverent awe and love and may thus learn to trust in God.
4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
David now outlines the blessedness of those who do so trust in God, and thus turn from all sinful ways. They do not listen to those proud men who in their pride ignore God and would lead them astray, nor do they listen to those who would lead them into dishonesty and deceit, for God has made their thoughts pure.
For such people God performs many wonderful things, and His thoughts and purposes are continually loving towards them. Indeed, what He will do for them is so vast and so manifold that it cannot be tabulated or numbered. It is more than can possibly be sorted out into some sort of sequences in order that it can be described. For one thing multiplies and tumbles over on another, and then another, so that His actions towards them are beyond listing or counting.
6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”
He affirms that he has used his God-provided ears in order to listen to what God has to say and has recognized that God requires not simply religious observance, but an obedient heart. He had no doubt heard of the words of Samuel to Saul, which would have echoed throughout the land. ‘Has YHWH as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of YHWH. Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams’ (1 Samuel 15.22). And he wants YHWH to know that he will use the ears that He has given him to listen.
The whole range of offerings and sacrifices are in mind. Both the blood sacrifices and the meal offerings, and including those most important of offerings, the wholly offered burnt offerings and the sin offerings. All are required by YHWH for the purposes of atonement, but they are not enough in themselves. What is more important than all is an obedient heart (Isaiah 1.11-18, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. 12 “When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts. 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. 16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.).
And he wants YHWH to know that his obedience is such that the guarantee of it is in writing, for it is written in a book, ‘Lo I am come, I delight to do your will O my God, yes, your Instruction is in my heart’.
The reference may be to his own private record of his own dedication of himself, including some of his psalms, or to the Book of Deuteronomy, or indeed to the whole of the Instruction of Moses (the Pentateuch). But the fact that it is recorded in writing is seen as giving it more force.
What is written, however is more important than where it is written. And what is written is that he will come to God and will with great delight obey Him fully from the heart. This is what is required of all men, to do the will of God (Psalm 19.7-14, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they then gold, yea, then much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer), and have His Instruction written in their heart. And when the words are applied to our Lord Jesus Christ, great David’s greater son, the book is the Scriptures, and the obedience is according to the eternal will of God, but carried out through suffering by our Lord Himself in order that He might be a perfect and complete sacrifice (Hebrews 10.5-14, “5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’?” 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.).
9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know. 10 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.
He declares that in the assembly and worship of the people of God he has proclaimed glad tidings of ‘righteousness’. In mind here are probably God’s righteous acts in delivering His people from Philistine oppression through him. And he assures God that he will not refrain from doing so, so that all the glory might go to YHWH, something that he is assured God already knows.
Thus, he can quite honestly declare that he has not hidden the truth about God’s righteous activity in his heart but has faithfully declared his faithfulness and deliverance to all. Nor has he concealed God’s covenant love or His truth from them in the great assembly. In other words he assures God that he has made quite clear to the people how much they owe to God in His faithfulness and love, for their deliverance.
11 Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; Therefore, my heart fails me.
It is one of David’s outstanding characteristics that when he faces trouble he recognizes how many of his problems are due to his own sinfulness. Thus, he does not just blame Saul or the world for his problems, or even God, but acknowledges that much of his trouble stems from his own behavior.
So as he prays for the help of a gracious and merciful God, and in doing so acknowledges His compassion and truth in all that He does, he recognizes that much of his trouble results from his own iniquities. If only he had been more thoughtful in his behavior, if only he had not been so proud, and so vain, and so greedy, perhaps he might not have been in this position in which he found himself. Thus, he recognizes how much his own sins have multiplied and rebounded on himself. And his heart fails within him.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me! 14 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion who seek to destroy my life; Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish me evil. 15 Let them be confounded because of their shame, who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
Nevertheless, the greater sin is with his opponents. And so he calls on YHWH to deliver him and hurry to his aid. Let those who seek after him to destroy him find themselves confounded. Let those who delight in his hurt be driven back and brought to dishonor. Let those who mock him and seek to shame him, themselves be desolate because of their own shame. For YHWH will be aware how much of it is their own fault, and indeed is what they deserve. His confidence lies in the fact of his own trust in God, and in his own faithfulness and obedience to God previously revealed. He is sure that YHWH will be on his side because he is faithful to His covenant requirements and always grateful to Him for His help.
He closes the Psalm by turning men’s attention away from him to YHWH. He wants them to look at God and honor Him, and recognize that their safety, security and blessings came from His hands. And he hopes that there will be a little left for himself.
One of the tests of a truly righteous man is that he does not see himself as righteous. He is deeply aware of his own failings. And so, it was with David. He was one of the most moral and righteous men of his times (despite the black spots) and yet he saw himself as simply ‘poor and needy’, and indeed could not fully understand why the Lord bothered about him. But he knew that He did, and he rejoiced in it.
16 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!” 17 But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.
He closes by calling on God to ensure that the righteous receive what they ‘deserve’, God’s security, protection and provision. Let those who see Him, be glad in Him (because He has faithfully provided for them), let those who love his salvation constantly be able to say, ‘YHWH be magnified’ (because they know and are aware that YHWH has truly saved them).
And then his humility comes out in that he, the chosen of YHWH, is so surprised that his Sovereign Lord (Adonai) thinks on someone so poor and needy as he is. But in his heart he knows that He does, and so he calls on Him as his God not to delay, but to come to him, bringing him help and deliverance, and he does so with full confidence in his heart.
