The Solid Rock
(ESV) Ps 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
When I read this scripture I am immediately reminded of the hymn “He Brought me Out” written by Henry Zelley in 1898.
My heart was distressed ’neath Jehovah’s dread frown,
And low in the pit where my sins dragged me down;
I cried to the Lord from the deep miry clay,
Who tenderly brought me out to golden day.
Refrain:
He brought me out of the (deep) miry clay,
He set my feet on the (solid) Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my (happy) soul today,
A song of praise, hallelujah!
I love the old hymns of the church that are so grounded in scripture. I often sat in church between my aunts, one who sang soprano and the other alto. I sang these songs with gusto, but admittedly as a four year old I did not grasp the full meaning of the lyrics.
This song echoes the theme from Psalm 40 where David is rejoicing after receiving deliverance from God. When we are in trouble we do feel as though we are mired in a bog.
A few years ago I was playing golf and hit an errant shot. I went to retrieve the ball which had landed in a muddy area that was out of bounds. I took a step and without warning my leg sunk into 3 feet of muck. I was stuck. Finally my husband wondered where I was and found me. With much effort, he freed me.
We all know that God accepts us where He finds us. But praise God He does not leave us in that condition. When Larry freed me from that bog, I was still covered in mud. We had to use both golf towels and bottled water to restore me to a semblance of cleanliness. But when God pulls us out of our sin, we are made spotless. And, we are given a new song! A song of praise, hallelujah!
May we be so in tune with God that we avoid the muddy bogs and walk hand in hand with our Savior on solid ground.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Seeking Holiness 