The Devotional – A look at Psalm 40:1-17 (Part 3)

The Devotional – A look at Psalm 40:1-17 (Part 3)

Comment: John 10:1-6 – The LORD Jesus is the perfect illustrator of truth, the Perfect illustration of Truth and is the Perfect Shepherd who guards His sheep in Truth. His sheep hear His voice, He even calls us by name and we follow Him. Other voices are around, but since we know Him we do not follow the voice of the stranger’s, or his words. Trusting in the comfort of Truth we flee from him whom we know is a stranger. We also know that there is only ONE way to enter into Truth; all of the other methods are false. The LORD describes these ways to be like those of a thief, a robber who enters into the “sheepfold” (enclosure) by another way. Jesus, understanding that some may not understand His illustration goes on to explain this Truth even more clearly, continue if you will through John 10:7-18.

Devotional: Psalm 40:11-17 – Sin is a willful act to disobey Truth, an iniquity is a response to the way we are treated by others. Both sin and iniquity are transgressions against our Holy God, each day we must be aware of our actions. I am sure that none of us what the LORD God to withhold His tender mercy from us; yet far too often this happens because we fail to keep a close watch on our tongue and interactions with the faithless people around us.

When we are surrounded by numerous evils, we need the lovingkindness of our Father God, if we are downtrodden with iniquity we cannot look up and experience God’s love for us and our actions are no better than the actions of the faithless people around us. Our heart fails to produce the countenance of God’s Righteousness and the number of transgressions increase. Have you been in this type of circumstance lately? If you are honest, you know the answer is yes.

“Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD make haste to help me” in these moments or hours of time it is impossible for you and me to deliver ourselves since we are as much a part of the problem as the unfaithful people around us. And yes, if we call out to God; He will deliver us and both you and Him will be pleased with the result. Shame of face and confusion is the way of the wicked when the Righteous, who are as bold as a lion confront those who wish to do evil.

All who seek the LORD in faith will rejoice and be glad in the LORD for He alone delivers us in all victory over evil. Evil is ever present in our day and if we handle evil with evil our iniquities overflow our countenance. Therefore, be bold and let the LORD be magnified through you. In our human frailty we are poor and needy, but call to mind and remember the LORD who thinks about us continually. He is merciful, pleasant and peaceful. Thus the enemy, in the face of truth will be ashamed, confused and disbanded, we ought always to call upon God for He will not delay, delay comes when we fail to call out to HIM.