#DailyDevotion When We Recognize Our Need, Then We Need To Recognize Our God
Psalm 40 14May those who are trying to destroy me, all be disappointed and ashamed, and those who delight in harming me turn back in disgrace. 15May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled by their own shame.
These words have undertones of Gen. 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse anyone who curses you, and in you all the peoples on the earth will be blessed.” Abraham was the LORD’s blessed one. David was the LORD’s blessed one. Jesus is the Blessed Seed and the Holy One. Through faith in Jesus and being baptized into Him, you are one with Jesus.
David is calling upon the LORD to fulfill His promise concerning his enemies. As the repository of the Blessed Seed who is the Messiah, the LORD will have His eye on David to protect him. His faith in the LORD has brought him to this place.
Jesus no doubt prayed this prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane as He contemplated His upcoming suffering and death at the hand of His people, the Jews. The Jewish leadership was seeking to destroy Jesus. Certainly they were disappointed and ashamed, they were turned back in disgrace when the Roman armies came knocking on the door of Jerusalem if they did not repent and turn to Christ in faith before that moment. In their deaths, they were appalled by their own shame. Yet, when the time came to Christ to be crucified and they were saying to Him, “Aha! Aha!” He prayed the Father not to hold this sin against them. He was dying on the cross for such as these. We who put our faith in Christ may find ourselves with enemies as well. When we pray this prayer, it is not so much a curse we are putting on them but rather pronouncing the judgment they deserve and will receive if they do not repent.
16But may all who look to You for help find joy and delight in You. May those who love You for saving them always say, “The LORD is great!”
Here we have this blessing. When we look to the LORD Jesus Christ for help, we will find joy and delight in the LORD. Indeed may we always find joy and delight in the LORD Jesus Christ because He has delivered us, He has saved us from eternal death and given us an eternal inheritance. Because He has saved us we love Him and always say, “The LORD is great!” He is indeed great who saved sinners, who died for His enemies, who shed His blood for the ungodly and sinners. He did this purely out of His grace and mercy towards us. What else can we do but love and praise Him?
17I am poor and needy; but my LORD plans for me. You are my Helper and Deliverer. O my God, don’t delay!
We are indeed poor and needy but the LORD plans for us. He has prepared good works in advance for us to do. We are Christ’s workmanship. Jesus is our Helper and Deliverer from sin, death and the power of the devil. But He is not only a God for us for the future but He is God for us today. So in the midst of all our trials and tribulations we pray for Him not to delay to save us now and in this moment from what is afflicting us. We can be assured, He will give us the help we need.
Heavenly Father, grant us faith in You and Your Son Jesus Christ to trust You are always with us and will bless, help and save us in the hour of our need. May we look to you alone for every good. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.