Psalms

Psalms 40: The LORD hears the needy

Begin in prayer

Before we remember the help God has given, let us ask for hearts ready to hear His will. Pray that He would bring us to Jesus and teach us willing obedience and honest prayer in our need.

Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:22

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the LORD hears the needy and desires hearts willing to obey His will. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David remembers waiting for the LORD, who heard his cry and brought him from a horrible pit to firm footing on a rock. God gave him a new song, and many will see, fear and trust the LORD whose wonders cannot be counted. David responds with delight in doing God's will and with His law within his heart. He tells the great assembly of God's righteousness, faithfulness and salvation, keeping no silence about His loving kindness. Yet countless evils and his own iniquities now overwhelm him, so he asks the LORD to hurry with mercy and deliverance. His final requests seek shame for enemies, joy for those who love God's salvation, and help for himself as poor and needy.

As you read Psalms 40, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD rescues the needy, desires willing obedience, and remains the help His servants urgently seek.

The remembered rescue moves David from sinking clay to a rock, making his new song testimony that others can see and trust. His blessing belongs to those who trust the LORD instead of following pride and lies. God's countless wonders call forth willing service, with opened ears and the law in the heart expressing delight in His will. Sacrifices could never take the place of the obedience God desires from the worshipper. Hebrews 10 verses 5 to 10 apply these words to Jesus, who came to do God's will and offered His body once for all. David later confesses his own iniquities, while Jesus is the sinless Savior whose obedience fulfils the psalm's willing response. The loving kindness he proclaimed becomes the mercy he asks to preserve him as enemies seek his life and enjoy his hurt. His prayer seeks their shame and the seekers' joy, ending with the urgent appeal of a man whose only help is the Lord.

How does Psalm 40 show us that the LORD rescues the needy, desires willing obedience, and remains the help His servants urgently seek?

The LORD's rescue gives His servant a new song.

David waited, and God heard his cry and gave him firm footing. His praise tells others where true trust belongs. The wonders and thoughts of God exceed what he can count.

The LORD desires the obedience of a willing heart.

Opened ears are ready to hear the will God gives. David speaks of delight in that will and of God's law within his heart. His grateful response includes telling the congregation of God's righteousness and faithfulness.

The LORD remains the help of His needy servant.

Remembered rescue has not removed David's present need for mercy. His own sins overwhelm him while enemies seek his life and gloat. He asks shame for their cruelty, joy for God's seekers and urgent help from his deliverer.

Memorise

I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where am I offering religious words while resisting the will of Jesus?

David says, “I delight to do your will, my God.” Rescue has given him a song and a willing response to the Lord. Yet his later confession shows how much he still needs mercy for his own iniquities.

Jesus obeyed His Father's will without sin. At the cross He bore His people's punishment and died in their place. He rose to life, and His finished saving work is enough to bring them into acceptance with God. The Savior completed the work that no repeated offering could accomplish.

Turn from sin and trust Jesus. The obedient Saviour receives each person who comes in faith, granting the forgiveness His work has secured. Bring Him the resistance hidden beneath your religious words, and ask for a heart willing to hear and obey. His people may come as poor and needy to the Lord who remains their help and deliverer.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD hears the needy and desires hearts willing to obey His will. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for hearing the needy and for the completed obedience of Jesus. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.

John 4:34

Lord, thank You for hearing Your people's cries and giving them reason to praise. Please bring us to trust Jesus, whose obedience and sacrifice are complete. Forgive the resistance we hide behind religious words. Open our ears to Your will, and help the poor and needy who call on You this week. Amen.