God Promises to Lift You Up

Psalms 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
 
MANY of the psalms to  this point have been David’s prayers and pleas to God to save him from King Saul’s persecution. This psalm celebrates David’s deliverance from Saul. David rejoiced God has lifted him out of the slimy pit of persecution, despair and danger. “Slimy pit” is an appropriate illustration of those hard circumstances that seem to be far too common. How is it possible to climb out of a pit covered with slime? You need a helper, don’t you?
   The prophet Jeremiah’s story is a real example. The Jews who objected to his prophecies of God’s judgment put Jeremiah in a slimy pit: Jeremiah 38:6 So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. God’s faithful servant was trapped in a deadly prison.
   Then God delivered his prophet. The king’s servant named Ebed-Malech was from Egypt. It is not known if he worshiped God. But it is interesting to note God used a foreigner to rescue Jeremiah. Ebed-Malech took 30 men to save Jeremiah. Thirty men were needed to pull Jeremiah safely from the slimy pit and to guard him from those who sought his death. Jeremiah could, indeed, proclaim, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire.”
   But was it God who put these men in the pit? As  the Bible tells us, sometimes God does do this to exalt his purposes. Often he does so to draw his anointed into a greater trust in his power to do all things, even the impossible to lift them up spiritually and physically to safety. God wants us to know, as Jesus taught, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
   We must know that “all things” includes all things. This may be an obvious sentence. But, in truth, it’s easier to assure someone that all things are possible with God. But do you believe what you say? Perhaps you may find it impossible to believe this for your own life.
   That’s why you need a helper. A pit is not only slimy, it is dark. You cannot see for yourself the way out to rescue yourself. A rescuer must come to pull you up and out. In each “impossible” pit we must see through the darkness to know with God all things are possible. When Jesus said this, he was telling his disciples salvation unto heaven is impossible with our own efforts. But God has made eternal kingdom life possible. With the help of the Holy Spirit, there is no slimy pit that can keep you from God’s eternal helping hand.
   Call to him in faith. Know he hears your plea. Understand he lifts you up into his presence to call you his own. Your physical circumstances may remain the same. But you will certainly be made new in God’s eternal rescue.
   Rescued from the pit, you will sing a new son of praise. You will see and worship and put your trust in the LORD.