Bible Study

The Song of a Grateful Heart

Michael Beck

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)


Sometimes, we think we’re waiting on God, but God is actually waiting on us. What is He waiting for? He is waiting to hear our broken cry.

And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. (Isaiah 30:18,19)

Singing of God’s INTERVENTION

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay … (Psalm 40:2a)

God comes between us and the enemies of our soul (i.e. sin/Satan.) Without His intervention, our lives would have been destroyed.

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:1-8)

Singing of God’s INVOLVEMENT

… and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalm 40:2b)

God not only gets us up, He gets us going in a new and better way.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalm 32:8)

Singing of God’s INTEREST

What does God want in return for all His help?

1. He wants to become our SONG.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God … (Psalm 40:3a)

2. He wants to make us an INSPIRATION to others.

… many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:3b)

3. He wants us to DEPEND only on Him.

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. (Psalm 40:4)

4. He wants us to RECOGNIZE His wonderful involvement in our lives, again and again.

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (Psalm 40:4)

5. He wants us to willingly give ourselves to Him as a LIVING SACRIFICE.

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:6-8)

6. He wants us to boldly and publicly DECLARE who He is and what He has done.

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. (Psalm 40:9,10)

Singing of God’s INVESTMENT

Having invested so much in our lives, God wants us to continue to call upon Him, in every trial and temptation we face. He does NOT want to turn us over to the will of our enemies. His glory is at stake in our life. He wants to be magnified through us continually, even if we find ourselves back in a horrible pit or miry clay. Though we are poor and needy, He will think of us. He wants us to think of Him, and how He can still be glorified in our life.

Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. (Psalm 40:11-17)


Michael Beck is a pastor in the Dallas, TX area and the main author on Signpost. Receive a daily devotional he publishes every morning via email.