This study takes a look at the book of Psalms in the Old Testament. We don’t read from the Psalms very often in Sunday Chapel Time, but Christians and Jews have turned to this poetry for encouragement and comfort for thousands of years.
The book of Psalms is basically a book of songs. Many of the psalms were written by David, Israel’s greatest king, but there are also several written by other authors. These songs range in topic from praise to lament, to thanksgiving, to pleas for help. The psalms are important for us readers because they express feelings and events that we all experience.
The Pit
In today’s psalm, David writes about one of the many trials he experienced in life, describing how he interacts with God during this time. David refers to this trial as “a pit.” When we’re in trouble or going through a difficult time…that’s what it means to be in “the pit.” We’re stuck, and we can’t climb out. It’s a poetic image, but it is an experience we’ve all had before.
Read Psalm 40:1-5 and think about discussion question #1.
Waiting for the LORD
You probably haven’t always relied on God to help you out of the pit. Maybe you never have. In this psalm, David insists that the best way to get out of the pit is to trust God and “wait” for Him. But what does it mean to “wait?” Well, waiting is active, not passive. Let’s think about the “actions” David mentions in these verses:
- Verse 1: crying for help
- Verse 3: praising God
- Verse 4: trusting God and NOT trusting our own pride or lies
- Verse 5: recounting God’s many wondrous works and plans for us.
We should be busy when we “wait” for the Lord. We should be calling out to God, and praising Him for his faithfulness. God hears us when we call out to Him, and He does, in fact, answer us.
It’s easy to turn towards our own pride and think that we can get through all our problems by ourselves. It’s also easy to believe the lie that we can trust other things to save us. Sometimes, it may even seem like we don’t need God—like we can get through difficult times just fine without God. But the truth is, we can’t rely on our pride or the lies that keep us from asking for God’s help. We all end up in the pit again at some point, and what got us out last time likely won’t be able to help us again. Trusting God and waiting on Him is the only reliable way to get out of that pit every time.
Trusting God
Now take some time to think about discussion question #2.
Yeah, why? Well, in verse 4, David says that those who put their trust in the Lord are “blessed.” But why are they blessed? In the Bible, God has shown His faithfulness and helped people that trusted Him time and time again. David himself says that God’s wondrous works are so numerous, there are more than he can count. God has already proven Himself to be a reliable, trustworthy Protector and Helper.
If you’re a Christian, then there is surely a time when you were going through something difficult, trusted God, and God pulled through for you and helped you overcome it. I’ve had several experiences like this where I witnessed God’s help and provision actively showing up in my life. Every situation was hard—like a deep pit that I couldn’t get out of. But in the end, I had only praise for God, because He helped me every time I cried out to Him. Christians can look back to past experiences as proof of God’s help and faithfulness.
But what if you haven’t tried to trust God before? You don’t have any personal experience to pull from. That’s where the Bible becomes essential. The Bible is full of story after story where someone cried out to God for help, and God pulled through for them.
God’s Faithfulness in the Bible
God repeatedly took care of the Israelites, as well as other faithful non-Israelites, throughout the entire Old Testament. He saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, promised protection and blessing to a runaway slave woman and her son, protected faithful Israelite refugees from death in enemy territory, and even protected Israel from Himself—His own wrath—when Moses asked for God’s mercy instead of judgment. These are just a few examples.
Not only has God already protected and answered calls for help, but the Bible constantly reminds us of His promise to take care of those who seek Him. If we read the prophets, the New Testament letters, or even the words of Jesus, we can read all about God’s promises to love us and be with us when we trust in Him. We can trust God to help us because God has already proven Himself to be trustworthy—in the Bible and in our own lives.
Blessed is the One Who Trusts the LORD
Finally, look at discussion question #3 and consider how you can apply this study to your life.
Take a look at Jeremiah 29:11-13.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
God doesn’t want us to be defeated by life’s circumstances. He wants us to prosper and live a life full of joy and hope. God already has victory over the world. Jesus secured that victory for us on the cross. We can’t prosper the way God intended by our own strength; we’ll surely be defeated by the world. But if we wait for God, seek Him and trust in Jesus’ victory, we will be pulled out of the “pit” victorious. We also will overcome the world, and all the trials that come with it. Don’t be afraid to trust God with your problems. He’s the only one that can help you out of the pit, and He wants to! Just ask, and wait.