Jesus and psalm 40

 

1)      In the Old Testament there are passages that have a “dual fulfillment.”

2)      This means a passage applied to two different sets of circumstances or two sets of circumstances.

3)      Several illustrations of this could be given, but we are going to use Ps. 40.

a)      In some respects the 40^th Psalm is about David.  There is no doubt about that.

b)      This Psalm also pointed forward in many respects to Jesus.

c)      Certain things were true of both David and the Lord.

 

4)      Tonight we want to look at several of the key points in Ps. 40 and see how they relate to the Christ.

5)      We begin with Ps. 40:1 – READ.  David could have very well said that these words applied to him.

a)      In many ways David was a patient man.  This first verse also applies to the Lord.

b)      If we want an example of someone who was patient with others, it is Jesus Christ.

c)      Most of us will never be a doctor or a nurse.

d)     We have seen how sick people act.  Sick people are often cranky.  They can be rude.

e)      Sickness can bring out the absolute worst in a person.

f)       When someone is ill they may become mean and be quick tempered.

g)      Think about how Jesus dealt with in His public ministry.

h)      He interacted with thousands of sick people.  He also dealt with those who were hungry.

i)        He also had to deal with those who verbally attacked Him.

j)        It is literally true that Jesus waited on the Father.  He was patient in every possible way.

k)      When He was at the close of His life in the garden, He was patient.

l)        At His trial when He was mocked, beaten, and spat upon, He was patient.

m)    Even when He was crucified He was patient.

 

6)      Jesus showed perfect patience through His life.

7)      This was really an Old Testament prediction.  Ps. 40:1 was looking forward to Jesus.

a)      This passage is one that that can help us at various times.

8)      If we do not regard ourselves as a patient person, we can look at the Lord’s life.

9)      We can find those times when He would have been tempted to be impatient and learn from them.

10)  Jesus is a great example in the area of patience.

 

11)  In the second verse of Ps. 40 we have illustrated some of the things that required patience.

a)      David said God had brought him “out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay.”

b)      A time came when God “set his feet upon a rock.”

c)      This reminds us of when Jesus was on the cross.

d)     That experience must have felt like a pit—sinking to the lowest possible death.

e)      Jesus said, “my God, my God why has thou forsaken me?”

 

12)  When a person feels forsaken by God, that is about as low as they can go.

13)  Such a person feels like they have been consigned to a dungeon.  They feel helpless.

14)  The reference to being in clay is an image of someone trying to walk in wet mud.

15)  A person slips, sinks, and cannot get a foothold.

a)      Teresa and I had been married for about 2 years and were camping at a fairly remote lake.

b)      Rain was coming, the area looked like it would be difficult to get out from, so we packed up.

c)      Before we were all loaded up, the rain started.  It was heavy and things got muddy almost instantly.

d)     We were in a full size pickup with 2 wheel drive and we were struck.

e)      Then, out of the water, appeared 4 scuba divers.

 

16)  They said they would push us – once we got started, keep going and don’t look back.

17)  We bathed those guys in mud trying to get out of our campsite.

18)  I hope they were wearing face masks. 

19)  Slipping, sliding, and sinking are not much fun if we are trying to get traction.  It can really try the patience.

20)  A time can come when a person is able to get a foothold and things begin to improve.

21)  Such was what happened with Jesus (Jehovah heard His cry, the end of verse 1).

22)  Jesus was “established in His goings” (the end of verse 2).

23)  This points to the fact that Jesus finished the work of redemption and that is forever done.

24)  Jesus will never again need to set foot on this earth.

25)  He will never again die – all the work to save mankind has been performed.

26)  Heb. 7:25 says He “saves people to the uttermost.”

 

27)  In verse 3 of Ps. 40 we find a reference to a song.

a)      I am not persuaded that this means Jesus literally sings.

b)      Rather, the point seems more consistent with Heb. 2:12.

c)      There it is said Jesus is in the “midst of the congregation” (i.e. His church).

d)     The Hebrew said in 2:12 that in the church He will “sing praise.”

e)      If I understand the thought, the writer is trying to say Jesus is very close to His people.

f)       He also means Jesus rejoices over some things.

 

28)  The Lord knows full what His death has accomplished and that makes Him rejoice.

29)  Death has lost its sting, Hell’s power has been for all practical purposes has been overthrown,

30)  All men can potentially go to heaven, and one day God will be “all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28).

 

31)  If we had only these opening verses, we might not know for sure that Jesus is being described.

32)  Other verses in the Psalm leave no doubt that Jesus is in view – verses 6-8 – READ

33)  These verses are cited in Heb. 10:6-9 and there they are specifically applied to Jesus .

a)      Psalm 40 is attached to Jesus by an inspired writer.

b)      In verse 6 of Ps. 40 we learn that no part of the Old Testament law could pay for sin.

c)      Sacrifices and offerings abounded, but none could take care of the sin problem.

d)     A special sacrifice had to be given and that sacrifice was the Lord’s own flesh.

e)      Here we are told that Jesus came to do heaven’s will.

 

34)  There were times when His doing God’s will was like slipping on the mud; it was hard.

35)  There were times when things were very bitter (horrible pit, verse 1), but Jesus was patient.

36)  Jesus’ example is a marvelous one for us to follow.

37)  Too often a person will say or think, “Christianity is just too hard.”

38)  “There are too many rules, regulations, or too many instructions to follow.”

39)  Christianity is never called an easy way of life.  It is called the best way of life.

40)  If we want to live a s a Christian, we need to commit ourselves.

a)      In verse 6 of Ps. 40 the text says, “mine ears thou has opened.”

b)      Jesus wanted to know what heaven’s will was and then wanted to do it.

c)      Our Lord looked at the spiritual part of life as something He wanted; it was desirable.

 

41)  Over the years most of us have met someone who has said, “What must I do to please God?”

42)  “How many times a week must I come to services?”

43)  “Must I attend every assembly?”

44)  “How much money must I give?”

45)  “How many extra curricular activities must I attend?”

46)  These are not the types of questions found in this Psalm.

a)      The attitude of Jesus was, “What is there for me to attend?  What is there for me to do?”

b)      “How can I help?  How can I carry out the will of God in and with my life?”

c)      “Tell me what is available.”

d)     This is spirit and attitude that is still needed by members of the church.

 

47)  For Christians it is not “what can we get by with and slink to heaven,” but “where can we help work?”

48)  Not long ago I saw someone talk about some of the songs we sing.

a)      The article was titled, “The way we would sing if we were honest.”

b)      For some Christians—and I would this would be true for only a few—the following might be true.

c)      He said one song would read, “I surrender some” instead of “I surrender all.”

d)     “Fill my spoon, Lord” was another.

e)      “Oh, how I like Jesus” instead of “how I love Jesus.”

f)       “Take my life and let ME be” instead of “let it be.”

g)      “Where He leads I will CONSIDER following.”

h)      “When the saints come sneaking in.  Sit up, sit up for Jesus.”

 

49)  This was not what the Old Testament said would be true for Jesus; He would be eager.

50)  Zeal and enthusiasm need to be the characteristics that Christians demonstrate today.

 

51)  Verse 7 in this psalm also deserves close attention.

a)      There was a book – Heb. 10 affirms this book was about Jesus.

b)      In this document we see what Jesus would be like.

c)      We are told about His teaching, His manner of life, His death, resurrection and ascension

d)     We even have information about His kingdom.

 

52)  No greater book than the Bible has ever been written.

53)  Ps. 40 hints at the fact that God’s word is truly great.

a)      This book was put together over a period of about 1,500 years (40 generations were involved).

b)      In excess of 40 writers contributed to the word of God.

c)      These authors included kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, scholars.

d)     Some men were in palaces and others were in dungeons and the wilderness.

e)      Some of the scriptures were written during times of war and some during times of peace.

f)       Some of the men were going through good times and some through bad.

g)      These men came from three different continents (Asia, Africa, Europe).

h)      Three different languages were involved ( Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek).

 

54)  When Jesus came, guess what He did?  He took the word that had been written.

55)  Verse 10 of Ps. 40 – READ

56)  Jesus took the information heaven had given and helped people understand it a little better.

57)  Then He gave some additional information.

58)  Our world pays a lot of attention to information.

59)  Some of it is worthless, but we are a society that is surrounded with information.

60)  We get it via television, the paper, the radio, the Internet, friends…many, many sources.

61)  God said He had some information that was so special it merited sending His Son.

62)  In verse 9 we are told that God’s news through Christ is “good news.”

a)      This really is true.

b)      In a world where much of the news we receive is negative and disheartening, there is good news.

c)      Our job is to take that good news and first apply it in our lives.

d)     God wants people who will be obedient like Jesus was.

e)      When our lives are in order, then we are instructed to take that good news to others.

f)       God has told us to take the gospel into the entire world.

g)      How are we doing in these two areas?  Is our life right with God?