Deliver.

In Psalm 40, David begins by speaking into the idea of waiting patiently for the Lord. Remember, in context he is saying, “I waited while waiting…”. It was prolonged, it was extended, and it wasn’t easy. The dessert in verse 1 is on the other side of the waiting, however. God “turned and heard my cry”. It’s on the other side of the waiting that we find our next stop on this three verse journey:

He lifted me out of the slimy put, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. -Psalm 40:2

Let’s talk, “Deliver”.

There have been many movies made based on Moses and his carrying out God’s greater plan of delivering His people out of bondage and slavery. There’s the classic movie with Charlton Heston, the Ten Commandments, and the “not so classic” 2014 Christian Bale motion picture release,  Exodus: Gods and Kings (sorry, had higher hopes for that one). I have to say, however, of them all, the one I still enjoy more to this day is Dreamwork’s, The Prince of Egypt. 

There is a moment in that movie that paints such a beautiful picture of what David is saying in Psalm 40:1-2. Watch the following scene and see if you can see it.

Imagine. God says, “Set my people free.” Moses says, “How?” God says, “I am.”

Enough said.

What follows is anything but simple. There’s Moses’ past that he has to deal with. There are plagues, there are second guesses, and just when you think the story is finished? There’s the scene above.

Moses had done as God had instructed. He had led God’s people out of bondage and, finally, there’s escape and freedom. That is, until he gets to the Red sea. Then there’s an army behind him, and a sea in front of him.

Ever been there?

Yep. Me too.

In this scene from the Prince of Egypt, It’s subtle but check out the expression on Moses’ face. You see him take this deep breath then he closes his eyes. You can see him thinking this out in his mind…

“Lord, you promised you would bring us through this… I have no idea how this is going to play out but I know You’ve carried me this far… I am counting on you to see me through…”

And then? There’s the moment…

He lifts his staff, he drops it in the sea, and…

God delivers. 

And here, my friends, is Psalm 40:2 coming to life.

On the other side of delay, there’s delivery.

David reminds us that, even in those moments where you can’t get a solid grip with your feet on the ground because they’re covered in muck and mire, God takes us and sets us on a solid foundation because this is what God does for those whom He loves.

Where are you today? Are you caught between an army and a sea?

Let David’s prayers be your prayers. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” (Psalm 37:14) “Be pleased to save me, Lord; come quickly, Lord, to help me.” (Psalm 40:13) “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them from their distress.” (Psalm 107:6)

Hang on. On the other side of “Delay” comes, “Delivery”. And what’s next? One of my favorite words:

Delight.

to be continued…