There are times when life is just like a rollercoaster. After waiting in line for our turn, we get securely settled in the car and anxiously await the launch. Once the ride starts, we twist, turn, rise, and fall along the coaster’s rails until we return to where we started. Today’s Psalm follows a similar track.
I won’t reprint the entire Psalm here; please look up and read Psalm 40:1-17.
The Psalm begins with a note of salvation. “I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:1–3, CSB) I love that imagery. If you’ve ever slogged through deep mud or tried to climb out of a slippery pit of wet clay, you’ll know the impossible situation of the psalmist. And you’ll also know the joy of the Lord setting you on solid ground.
Following are three stanzas further describing our joyful response. In verses 4-5, we praise God and recognize that it is impossible fully tell of His wondrous works. In verses 6-8, we see that God doesn’t delight in religious rituals but in relationships. In that relationship, we delight in doing His will. In verses 9-10, we do not hide God’s truth but declare His faithfulness and salvation to all. But then comes the twist.
After worshiping God, delighting in Him, and spreading the news, trouble comes. The psalmist shows trouble coming from within and without. In one instance, the trouble is our sin. “My iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see.” But trouble also comes from others, “Let those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled because of their shame.” (Psalm 40:15, CSB)
Yet, even in the troubles, the psalmist praises God. “Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation continually say, “The Lord is great!”(Psalm 40:16, CSB) Meditate on that for a moment. It’s easy to blame God when things do not go well. Instead, the psalmist praises God.
The last verse of the psalm completes the cycle. “I am oppressed and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and my deliverer; my God, do not delay.” (Psalm 40:17, CSB) Like a rollercoaster, we return to the beginning – or did we?
Yes, life throws us twists and turns. We may feel like no progress is being made and that all we do is go around in a gigantic circle of twists, turns, ups, and downs. Futile? The writer of Ecclesiastes seemed to think so. But consider this. Through all of those twists, turns, ups, and downs, something does change. Or, more correctly, someone has changed. We have. And like the psalmist, our heart turns ever more toward the Lord if we dare to stay on the ride.
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