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Mar. 21, 2006 “1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 40: 1-3) The one question that repeatedly comes to the Christian, born again in faith is, “How do you know you are saved?” Psalm 40 is one way to spot indication of a soul who has been given eternal life. Where before there was “mud’ there is now solid “rock” to stand on for the believer; and The “new song” replaces whatever before was issuing from the mouth of the unfaithful one. The old words of despair have been replaced with a “hymn of praise” and those who see this change now have their example and their sign of the reality of God. They can see enough to “trust” in the LORD. “4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” (20: 4-5) King David knew the true God and he knew where his life was best protected. His knowledge was extensive and rewarding in that he received specific promises from the true God concerning his family and his eternal legacy. This filled David with many songs of praise and joy even through his trials and personal troubles. “6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." (40: 6-8) For a long time men were under a law that included sacrifice and burnt offerings. This was never the real desire of God for all those sacrifices could not wash away the sin of man. These lawful offerings all pointed to the one and most valuable offering that could atone for the world’s sin. From the point of the resurrection on, men simply had to declare “Here I am.” There were a few who found that path before the coming of the Lamb Slain Before the World’s Foundation appeared in the flesh. There names are all found written in the scrolls of the faithful. But salvation is God having written his law into the heart of the believer so that he naturally walks in the desire to do God’s will. “9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.” (40: 9-10) This is a result of being brought into your relationship with God. We do not “seal lips”. We do not “hide righteousness”. We do not “conceal love”. We make every effort to voice and show and prove the worth of a life saved by the blood of the Lamb of God. It was always the faithfulness of God to men. Men broke their faithfulness with God in the very beginning. God never withheld his faithfulness and never reneged on his promises. “11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. 12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.” (40: 11-13) This is David’s admission of sin and guilt. He knows he does not deserve the mercies of God, but he knows that a truly repentant heart will honor God. God has promised to purge and make new the truly repentant heart. God does not falter on his promises. David trusted that. We each can trust that too. “14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.” Christians face these things today. This has ever been for those trusting the true God. Every corner of the earth holds trouble for the Christian because the Christian is not of the earth. He is not recognized except as an oddity among the civilizations of the world that either have no god or hold the worth of a god they’ve made with their own hands or imaginations. Those who desire the “ruin” of the Christian have no idea what it is they are seeking. The one person that would pray for their eternal life and health and relationship with the true God they would see ruined. Yet that is the reality of spiritual warfare against a world of unbelief. “16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!" 17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.” The final prayer of scripture is voiced by the Apostle John in his “Revelation”. He writes: “Come Lord Jesus.” This prayer will be answered. The “delay” that men may see is certainly for a purpose, and it is actually for the purpose in giving all men the call and opportunity for belief. In all the final words and works “The LORD [will] be exalted.” Everything that will happen will happen for the glory of God. Sin and death will stop. All that will eternally remain is the Godhead and all who have become part of that through the historical ages of mankind’s existence. Salvation can be known in this age. Salvation can be known today. God’s promise says: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” ------------ Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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