[072]. A Poem Message – Excerpts Certain Psalms Part 3 – Psalms 40, 31

[072]. A POEM MESSAGE – EXCERPTS CERTAIN PSALMS PART 3 – PSALMS 40, 31

{{Psalm 33:1-3 “SING FOR JOY in the LORD, O you righteous ones. Praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre. SING PRAISES TO HIM with a harp of ten strings. SING TO HIM A NEW SONG. Play skillfully with a shout of joy.”}}

We are currently posting in illustrations, certain Psalms in poem form. They all have special meaning for me especially concerning God’s care and His protection and deliverance. There are two Psalms in this posting. I have taken the thoughts, and often the wording in each Psalm, to compose those in poem form with proper metre and rhyme.

Every Psalm in the series has metre of 8-6-8-6 and can be sung if you like. There are many well-known tunes that fit that metre and here are some here - https://hymnary.org/search?qu=meter%3A8.6.8.6%20in%3Atunes&sort=totalInstances

** Psalm 40. This the Psalm where David speaks of being lifted from the pit and his feet placed on a Rock. It is a Psalm of deliverance and victory. I think all of us can experience that deliverance at some time in our lives. A new song of praise has been given. It is a beautiful Psalm.

** Psalm 31 begins with prayer for David was in a perilous situation and sought the Lord’s deliverance. This Psalm is strong on reliance on the Lord. There is so much in it. Please read the Psalm as well if in trouble, the one in your bible. The great reassuring verse of dependence is in this Psalm – {{Psalm 31:15 “MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HAND. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.”}}

*** {{Psalm 40:3 “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and will trust in the LORD.”}}

*** {{Psalm 40:6-8 “Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired. My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I come. In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God. Your Law is within my heart.”}}

*** {{Psalm 31:14 “but as for me, I trust in You, O LORD. I say, “You are my God.”}}

*** {{Psalm 31:7 “I will rejoice and be glad in Your loving-kindness because You have seen my affliction. You have known the troubles of my soul.”}}

Please regard these poems as a meditation on the word of God containing all the richness of this beautiful section of the bible.

I hope you enjoy them.

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OOOOO - PSALM 40 - OOOOO

I waited patiently for Thee

While in destruction’s pit;

While sinking in the miry clay,

Unhealthy and unfit.

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The Lord inclined His ear and heard

My cry of real despair.

He lifted me from that dark pit,

With mercy chief and rare.

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He set my feet fast on the Rock,

Who is my Saviour Lord.

My footsteps He has stabilised -

Fixed on that Rock so broad.

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A new song in my mouth He gave -

To God my voice I’ll raise.

Unto my Saviour God I’ll sing,

In triumphs of His praise.

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Because the Lord has rescued me,

That act will others see.

The greatness of Your name they’ll fear;

In God their trust will be.

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o o o o o o o -- o o o o o o o

OOOOO - PSALM 31 - OOOOO

Incline Your ear to rescue me.

Ashamed - don’t let it be.

On You, O Lord, I’ve taken hold.

My Lord, deliver me.

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Be Thou to me a Rock of strength,

A stronghold to save me.

My Rock and Fortress, that You are;

My Leading Guide to be.

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And You will pull me from the net,

For me, laid secretly.

My strength alone, You are, my Lord,

For You have ransomed me.

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And those regarding idols vain,

I hate, but trust in You.

Your lovingkindness makes me glad -

Rejoice in that, I do.

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The troubles of my soul You know,

And my affliction too.

You see and know the hurt I have,

Committed all to You.

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You’ve set my feet in a large place,

Be gracious to me, Lord.

For I am in distress just now,

By wastage being sawed.

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My eyes also by grief are seized;

My life with sorrow spent.

With sighs, my years are passing on;

My strength by sin is rent.

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Reproachable I am to all;

To neighbours, very much.

And many adversaries have;

As “one dead”, none will touch.

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Those in the street do flee from me;

Forgotten, out of mind.

I’m like a broken vessel now,

And terror’s all I find.

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For I have heard their slander too.

They schemed against my life.

Together they took counsel then,

To plan their secret strife.

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But as for me I trust in You.

I say, “My God You are.”

My times are in Your hand just now.

Deliver me afar.

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Upon Your servant, shine Your face.

Let me not meet with shame.

But let the wicked go that way.

O Lord, I call Your name.

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In Sheol, let them silent be;

Let lying lips be dumb,

Which speak against the righteous ones -

With proud contempt they come.

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How great the goodness of our God

Which He has stored for those

Who take their refuge in their Lord,

Who rest in fear’s repose.

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For in Your presence’s secret place

You hide Yours when plots come;

In shelter, keep them secretly

When strife builds through sin’s tongue.

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The marv’llous kindness of our God

To me He has made known.

To Him I cried in my alarm,

Then His great grace He’s shown.

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O love the Lord all you His saints;

The faithful He preserves.

The proud He recompenses well

He gives what each deserves.

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o o o o o o o -- o o o o o o o

4 July 1999 + for a few weeks R E Ferguson 8-6-8-6