Is This Your Testimony?
Psalm 40 Sermon Series
Part 1
I. A Testimony of Deliverance by God’s Power– vs. 1-2
A. The Cry – vs. 1 “…he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”
God heard the cry of the Israelites in Exodus 3 and came to their rescue.
- Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
I’m afraid that many lost people today are not crying; they enjoy their sin; they love their sin.
They are not even aware of the bondage; the chains; the affliction they are in.
They won’t be saved because they don’t realize they are lost. David knew he was lost!
B. The Change – vs. 2 “…OUT OF the horrible pit…OUT OF miry clay”
God took him OUT of the pit; OUT of the miry clay.
God doesn’t leave His sheep in a mudhole when He finds them in one!
When David cried, God brought him OUT!
- Psalms 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles.
- Psalms 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
ILLUSTRATION:
God took Noah and his family OUT of the world, and INTO the ark.
God took Israel OUT of Egypt.
- Leviticus 11:45 For I [am] the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I [am] holy.
God brings His people OUT!
- Isaiah 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
- 1 Peter 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
C. The Confidence – “…set my feet upon a rock,
- Deuteronomy 32:3, 4 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. [He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.
David referred to God as his rock on multiple occasions:
- II Samuel 22:1-3 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day [that] the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
- Vs. 32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
NOTICE the contrast of the clay and the rock.
1. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
2. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
3. His oath, His covenant, and blood Support me in the whelming flood;
When all my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
D. The Course – “…and established my goings.”
Before God came by, David was going nowhere.
He just existed.
He was trapped in a pit; a mudhole.
It was a horrible existence. It was a filthy existence.
God came to where he was, changed him and gave him a purpose for living!
NOTE: God’s people will experience a change in their GOINGS!
David’s goings were established!
God’s people are going to Heaven.
God’s people are going to church!
- Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
God’s people ought to be going into all the world!
- Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Part 2
II. A Testimony of Delight in God’s Person – vs. 3-8
David had a testimony of being delighted; in love with God and the things of God.
A. Delight in His Works – vs. 5 “…many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works…”
B. Delight in His Will – vs. 8 “…I delight to do thy will…”
C. Delight in His Words – vs. 8b “…thy law is within my heart.”
David had an unusual love for God because he fully appreciated his salvation experience.
- Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
III. A Testimony of Declaration of God’s Purity – vs. 9-10
- Vs. 9 – “I have preached righteousness…”
- Vs. 9 – “I have not refrained my lips…”
- Vs. 10 – “I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart…” – SEE verse 8b
So much for lifestyle holiness not being important!!
- 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
- Vs. 10 – “I have not concealed thy lovingkindness…”
- Vs. 10 – “I have not concealed thy truth from the great congregation.”
IV. A Testimony of Desire for God’s Presence – vs. 11-17
- Vs. 11 – Desire for God’s tender mercies
- Vs. 11 – Desire for God’s lovingkindness and truth
- Vs. 12, 13 – Desire for God’s deliverance from the evils that surround him
- Vs. 14 – Desire for help with those that seek to destroy his soul
- Vs. 16 – Desire for revival for those that seek God
- Vs. 17 – Desire for God’s presence and deliverance