Day Two: “Given”, by David Benjamin
He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:3 (NLT)
The text of Psalm 40 is a gift in itself, extended from the grace of God unto King David, an anointed king whom found favor with God and with the whole nation of Israel. Yet David was not a perfect king, and in the text of Psalm 40, he saw himself as an unworthy man who was meant to drown in the muck and mire of his own sins. However, God had a different plan for David, and instead of leaving him trapped with the baggage of his struggles and sins, God gifted King David with a chance of redemption. However, it didn’t end there!
God eventually washed away all of David’s stains and sins, and replaced King David’s sorrowful dirge with a joyful melody that he could sing all around the world. Although David was a king, he knew he could never repay God back with sacrifices or actions alone. Instead, he accepted God’s gift with a willing heart, and continued to tell the world of the amazing generosity of God throughout his kingdom through melodious songs that he wrote in dedication to God. Over time, those songs would be recorded by King David’s scribes, and translated into the very Psalms we have today.
God didn’t have to lift David up from the muck and mire of his own sins, much less give him the gifts of redemption and joyful inspiration. Yet He chose to lift David up from the muck and mire because He knew that David would take that gift and share it with everyone around him. At WGRC, we aren’t a perfect beacon of ministry, but one of the many recipients of the gifts of God. Like King David, we are sharing the Good News of Jesus to all of those who are trapped within the muck and mire of their sins, in an effort to liberate them through the joy and redemption that God has given to us.
As we pray today, offer up a prayer that God would continue to work in your life! May He use your experiences and interactions as way of sharing the joy and redemption that He has for all of us.
