Before reading please say a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide you through the message, so that you may grow in knowledge and faith. Now please read Psalm 40.

Psalm 40

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.

6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand
you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
7 Then I said, "Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart."

9 I have told all your people about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11 Lord, don't hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can't see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.

13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
14 May those who try to destroy me
be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
be turned back in disgrace.
15 Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, "Aha! We've got him now!"

16 But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, "The Lord is great!"
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.

Psalm 40:1-3

* The Lord helps us in troubled times. Especially when we cry out to him. This will help us see his goodness and grace, so we should worship him.

When is a time you were in the pit of despair, but God lifted you out onto the stable ground after you cried out to him?

My answer: I used to struggle with hypoglycemia really bad, and I began to pray where my sugar dropped. After a few times, my hypoglycemia has slowed, and I only struggle with it on rare occasions now. 

Psalm 40:4-5

* Joy comes to those who trust in the Lord, and the ones who trust in him will have a never-ending list of good things the Lord has provided for them.

There are a few things you can get from these verses. What did you get? What is something the Lord has done for you?

My answer: If you put your faith and trust in the Lord he will provide all your needs. The Lord has kept me safe from the Coronavirus.

Psalm 40:6-10

* Works alone do not get you in Heaven, but we should do good things and spread the word because we love the Lord, and it will help spread the gospel.

What are the benefits of sharing the gospel and doing good things? What is a time you shared the gospel or did a good deed?

My answer: We reap what we sow, and we will be rewarded in Heaven. I try to share the gospel via Wattpad because Wattpad is a good writing platform full of people. I saved a little girl's sand bucket at the beach recently from the waves.

Psalm 40:11-13

* This is a cry to be rescued. When sin comes at us like a storm covering the sin and making our world dark we can cry out to be saved from our sins. Sometimes our sins pile up and end up being way too much to handle. It's okay to seek help from our heavenly father.

When overwhelmed by sin what steps can you take to escape them? When you pray for your sins to be taken away how does it bring you relief?

My answer: I can first pray to be forgiven of my sins. Second, if it's fixable, I should fix the issue. Finally, I should try to avoid doing that sin again.

Psalm 40:14-17

* There will be haters. But when we have God on our side we can overcome them. We can praise him and bask in his glory ignoring those who hurt us. Even if we are weak and poor our God is strong and rich. May we always turn to him rather than let the world drag us down.

Even though we are all human, what do Christians have that nonbelievers don't?

My answer: We have a strong and mighty God who will defend and protect us. We have faith, trust, and hope in the God who created all things. We have salvation and will be with him in Heaven.

Note from the writer: Feel free to comment to spark discussion! This was created on May 9, 2020.