Today’s devotion comes from Psalm 40:1-5.
“I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the LORD.
4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.” Psalm 40:1-5.
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It is interesting to compare the vividly described single blessing in the first paragraph with the more general “too numerous to count” blessings mentioned in the second paragraph.
There is a time and place for both praises.
For the first type of vividly described single blessing in the first paragraph, we can think of the demoniac that Jesus healed.
“But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:38-39.
This type may build up more the faith of others. Paradoxically, even though the blessing was only received by the one individual, “… Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.” Verse 3.
For the second type of more general “too numerous to count” blessings mentioned in the second paragraph, we can think of the beloved Psalm 103 Scripture.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5.
This second type of blessings may build up more our own faith as we meditate on the different kinds of blessings that God gives. Paradoxically, even though many people may receive these types of blessings, this type of meditation on the different kinds of blessings that God gives may build up more our own faith even when we do not recently receive one of these blessings. Notice the word “your”, rather than “my”, as supporting this thought that the Psalmist may not have just recently received that blessing, but rather, the Psalmist was more generally believing that God gives these different types of blessings as evidence of the Psalmist faith.
Notice also the language in both these second type of blessings: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.” Psalm 103:1. And, “How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, …” Verse 4.
What there is in common between the two type of blessings is the preeminent importance of faith. In the first type of blessing, even though others may not have received that single blessing, their faith was built up, trusting God the Giver of all blessings. And, in the second type of blessing, the Psalmist was blessed by meditating on the wide range of blessings that God gives even though he or she may not have just recently received that blessing.
In closing, consider these next three Scriptures on what constitutes faith a/k/a trust and how we can even have faith a/k/a trust not only when we have not recently received a blessing, but even when we are distressed by various trials.
“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” Romans 8:24-25.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1.
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 