Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock, and established my goings. I. WHAT THE GRACE OF GOD DELIVERS FROM. 1. A position of degradation — "A pit." 2. A position of misery — "A horrible pit." 3. A position of danger — "The miry clay." (1) Insecurity. (2) Helplessness. (3) Death (Jeremiah 38:9). II. WHAT THE GRACE OF GOD BRINGS MEN TO. 1. A condition of spiritual elevation — "up." 2. A condition of spiritual stability — "And set my feet upon a rock." 3. A condition of spiritual advancement — "And established my goings." 4. A condition of religious happiness — "And He hath put a new song," etc. III. IN EFFECTING THIS CHANGE THE DIVINE BEING AND THE SINNER HAVE THEIR DISTINCT PROVINCES TO OCCUPY. 1. The sinner prays — evidencing — (1) Deep sense of need. (2) Deep consciousness of helplessness. (3) Trust in "the mercy and power of God. 2. The sinner waits — (1) In earnest expectation. (2) In the assurance of help being granted. 3. The Lord inclines His ear and hears the cry. 4. The Lord puts forth His saving power — "He brought me up." IV. LESSONS. 1. To believers. (1) Spiritual elevation no cause for boasting. (2) Spiritual stability no cause for self-confidence. (3) Spiritual advancement to be carefully maintained. (4) Religious happiness to be continued and increased. 2. To unbelievers. (1) Yours a position of degradation, misery and danger. (2) This position gradually becoming worse. (3) Escape is possible by penitential application to God (Hosea 13:9). What a future sinners must have if they remain in the pit! What a future sinners may have if they turn to Christi (Julius Brigg.) Parallel Verses KJV: He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. |