November 26 | Psalm 40

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DAILY READING

Psalm 40

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REFLECTION

Honest to God

By Pam Mann

We’re taught from a young age to take shelter when a storm is coming. Especially in an electrical storm or high winds, individual raingear will not suffice. You need shelter, a safe place bigger than you!

And what about the more intimate storms which weather stations cannot detect? Where is shelter from mounting work stress, vindictive neighbors, cutthroat co-workers, inner anxiety, or poor physical health? How similar to the safety plan for major weather storms is the believer’s plan for personal storms?  What is the spiritual lightning rod against the shocks that come out of nowhere to strike us? What is our high place against the rising flood? What keeps us anchored in high winds, safe in pounding rain, and calm whatever the ups and downs of life?

Such questions sent King David to his lyre and a quiet place where he could sing his heart. Literally. In Psalm 40, David sings out all his mixed-up hurt and hope. He loves God; he trusts God. But he also grapples with God and questions Him. Then David remembers all that God has done and proclaims Him great.

There’s nothing like a fierce storm to make David (and us!) speak “honest to God.” David sings of how well God equips us. God gives us an open ear (verse 6) to hear and obey.  God gives a heart to delight in His will (verse 8). God gives us a mouth to boldly proclaim His faithfulness (verses 9-10). God gives us eyes, but David honestly describes these eyes made blind by sin (verse 12).

David complains of his adversaries and is not shy to offer suggestions to God on dealing with them. (verses 14-15) What greater confidante than the Almighty for unloading such anger?

After all the praises, petitions, rants and confessions, David offers a precious blessings on believers (verse 16): May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”

Honestly, what would it take to be among the believers experiencing today that very blessing? Simply seek God whatever the challenges you face today. Simply long for God’s rescue in your situation. What believer doesn’t want God’s rescue? While we’re waiting as David waited, we rejoice in God. We’re celebrating God’s presence, even before any sign of rescue, or, especially before the sign of rescue.

PRAYER

Give us grace, Lord, to pray honestly to You as David did. We pour out to You the good, the bad, and the ugly. In the midst of the storm, give us joyous confidence in Your redemption. Whatever our outer condition is, let our inner being rest solidly in glad peace.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.

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