Advent: Psalm 40L


I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
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.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.


Psalm 40:1-3: The Journey’s End


"Location. Location. Location" is the mantra of real estate. In this Psalm, there are three distinct locations. Starting in a pit of destruction, which is not a place anyone wants to live or can continue to live for any length of time. Next is a miry bog, while livable, not a particularly comfortable dwelling to live amidst the slime and excess bugs. The final place is a secure rock, the most stable and desirable, where you can call home. 

People choose to live in one of these places within our souls. Some fall into, purposely visit and are stuck in, or are born into a pit of destruction. The pit will take our lives if we do not ask for help. As we cry out in our pain, we have to surrender to the Lord’s salvation as He draws us out of this pit. The Lord is unlimited in His strength and can handle the struggles involved with pulling someone out of a hole. The cuts and scrapes we endure while being rescued are due to our own failings against the walls during the rescue. Emerging to the surface, the situation is vastly improved. The swampland is livable. Your life is no longer in danger, and you can see the entire skyline. You can decide to stay in the murkiness, rather than continue with the Lord to the mountain of beautiful rocks. The foothills are far off in the distance. The journey would require strength and patience to navigate the swamp of your own mind. Some decide to stay in the miry murk, or get lost along the way and never experience the fullness of a life completely restored by the one who created life itself. A life that God could set your feet in if you ask.

In coming to the earth, Jesus left perfection to take on the battle against death and destruction in order to restore life. God desires to give His children a joyous praise-filled existence, starkly different from the muck and destruction. The journey of healing requires a progression from destruction to signs of new life in a swamp ending with finding home in the beauty of the mountain.

When others witness the transformation God performs in your life, do they feel awe, wonder, and fear?

If you put your faith in God, patiently wait for His rescue, and choose to follow Jesus up to a place of secure footing, others will marvel at your story and be inspired to put their trust in the One who rescued you. 

God does not leave His children in death, for he came to deliver them to life.



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