Psalm 40 Deliverance from the Pit

by Jill Ice

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

Sometimes we fall into a pit we dig for ourselves.  Our selfishness and pride see to it that we dig that pit deep and dark.  We deceive ourselves into thinking that our sin isn’t that bad, or that it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.

Sometimes we are thrown into the pit by other people.  We live in a fallen, sin-cursed world.  Every single person on this earth has to live with the consequences of Adam and Eve’s bad choice. Sometimes we bear the marks of other people’s sin against us. 

The real kicker is this – we can’t get out of the pit.  At least not on our own.  Scripture is filled to the brim with examples of people and nations (think Israel) trying to pull themselves out of the pit by doing it their own way. 

True deliverance is from God alone.  He drew me up from the pit.  He set my feet on a rock. He makes my steps secure.     

We see in other parts of Scripture that God’s deliverance is complete.  He will not give up on the good work He began at redemption. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. –Philippians 1:6

His work is for past, present, and future. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. – 2 Corinthians 1:10

He replaces our cries for help with a new song, a song of praise to God.  The old man is turned to new.  Ashes are turned into beauty. The transformation causes many to see, fear, and trust in God.