Thinking About Me

From The Desk of Pastor Toby Powers

Truth Baptist Church

Bremen, GA

Thinking About Me

Psalms 40:16-17

Intro: This is a very familiar Psalm, and we will use much of the whole chapter today. David is writing of the delivering power of God in this chapter. He concludes this chapter on this deliverance of God by rejoicing that the God of deliverance dwells upon poor and needy men just like us. Notice three things in this chapter:

I. His Song: v. 16 he rejoices and sings about seeking God, about salvation, and about showing glory. v. 3 he speaks of a “new song,” and we are to infer from this that he was singing all along, but there was a new song after the deliverance from the pit he speaks of in verse 2. What song did he sing?

A. Lost Song In the Pit: v. 1-2, Going down for the last time!

B. Lifting Song of Power: v. 2, he not only heard my cry, but he inclined and lifted (Jesus is Hope when there is no hope!)

C. Love Song in Praise: v. 3

D. Lasting Song In Proclamation: v. 5, 9-10, I just want to tell others of what he has done for me, but he has done so much, I have not the words to really tell it all!

E. Longing Song in Practice: v. 8, in 6-7 he states that God is not interested in offerings and sacrifice as much as he is obedience; furthermore, in verse eight he sings that it is not only the desire of the Savior but also the saint to do the will of God.

F. Leading Song in Preservation: v. 11, He sings of his prayer for leadership lest he once more find himself in the pit. II Peter 2:20-22, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

II. Situation: v. 17, much like Ps 8:4-5. Poor and needy= Root words: afflicted, greatly depressed, a beggar, one utterly destitute, and seeking help. Yet, the Lord thinketh upon me! The words are very emphatic; it is to say, “My prop, my support, meditateth, upon me.” This leads him to conclude, "Thou art my help and deliverer." Seeing that my miserable state occupies thy heart, it will soon employ thy hand. Thou, who meditates upon me, wilt deliver me. Furthermore, he requests that God does not tarry. Seeing thou art disposed to help, and I am in such great necessity, delay not, but come speedily to my assistance. He may not come when you call him, but he will be right on time! David understood that just because he had been delivered did not mean that he could make it on his own. One said:

I’ve seen others bearing their load. Tears were freely falling

And I felt surely this kind of thing would never happen to me

But then here came heartache and pain. I found myself falling

But on my way down I looked up and found, Jesus was reaching for me!

I saw his hand reaching for mine, then I knew I could make it.

Life was a burden too heavy to carry, but then I knew I could take it.

So tired and weary, I reached for him, then all was well with me.

On my way down I looked up and found, Jesus was reaching for me.

I have wondered why it must be, God’s own people crying.

And I thought surely troubles for me had all been cast in the sea.

But then one day here came my way troubles grimly calling

Then on my way down, I looked up and found he was still reaching for me!

III. Sustaining Force: v. 17, David thought Sovereign Thoughts:

A. Sovereign Intervention: help and deliver. I’m glad he does. II Cor 1:10 teaches us that he hath delivered and doth deliver! It keeps me going to know that there is nothing I can face from which God cannot deliver!

B. Sovereign Occasion: never tarries. Always on Time. Always on schedule. When we needed a Savior, he was on schedule (Gal 4:4-5). When I needed a friend, he was on schedule. When I need a touch, he’s always on schedule.

C. Sovereign Association: (my God) this keeps me going. He is thinking about me and always has been. He can’t get me off his mind! His plan is ever before him, and I am in his plan. Now, I’m thinking sovereign thoughts; I’m thinking about him!