SUMMER OF PSALMS-PSALM 40

Permission To Be The Real You Series
June 22, 2008
Pastor Nathan J. Thompson

As some of you know, I am one who has taken many canoe trips in the Boundary Waters at the end of the Gunflint Trail in Northern Minnesota and Canada. In fact, I spent a summer guiding trips at Wilderness Canoe Base when I was in high school, and I have taken some 25 trips through the years with youth in my churches.

Now as you can imagine, there are many stories and incidents that I could share from each of these trips. Every trip and group had its own dynamic, as well as weather conditions, bugs, and falls into the water. I could also share about amazing Bible discussions and prayer times.

In reading Psalm 40, I do remember a time not too many years ago when I was portaging through the woods around a rapids, carrying a backpack on my back and a canoe on my shoulders. Needless to say, I was pretty loaded down.

When I came to a recently rained upon and muddy place on the path, I tried to maneuver around this area by stepping on large rocks that protruded out of the ground. It was a pretty delicate dance that needed lots of agility and coordination-not always my strongest suit.

As I stepped on one muddy and wet rock, all of a sudden I realized that I was sliding backward toward the muddy ground. With a 70 lb. canoe, and a 40 lb. pack, my balance and inertia had no chance to be put right again.

So rather than fight it, or choose breaking a bone, I simply let myself slide on my butt. There I was, a canoe on top of my head, a backpack holding me down, and I was sitting in and surrounded by mud. There was no way I could roll, or do anything to get up.

All I could do was to call out for someone to help me. It was some minutes before some others in our group came along the path and heard me calling for help. With their help, of course, they were able to lift off the canoe, lift me on my feet, and get me on the solid rock again.

One of the realities today is that there are many people, perhaps some of you here this morning, who are carrying some heavy burdens in your hearts and lives. Perhaps you feel like you are stuck in the mud with a canoe hiding you away, and wondering if you can ever get out.

Perhaps it's your marriage that is stuck or floundering. Maybe the economy, or the loss of a job, has set you on your back. Maybe you are having problems with your kids, or with another family member. Perhaps you have lost your sense of purpose and meaning-are feeling alone.

The Psalmist in Psalm 40, I believe, understands and shares many of these feelings. He talks about being in a slimy pit, and about being in the mud and mire. Certainly the Psalmist knew what it was like to face the desolate experience of sin, of depression, of disease.

And yet the Psalmist said that in this slimy pit of a life he waited patiently for the Lord, trusting that God would turn to him and would hear his cry. And in that trust, God stooped down to where he was, lifted him out of the mud, and gave him a firm place to stand on a solid rock.

One of the important things to remember about the Psalms is that they are very honest with their feelings and emotions. In fact, there are many times the Psalm writers are shaking their fists at God in anger, or are crying out in deep pain and hurt. It is truly permission to be the real you.

And yet no matter how desperate and down they feel, the Psalm writers always believe that God is there. They always trust that God hears their prayers and that he will ultimately help them. Even in the lowest of times, their attitude is still one of trust and hope.

This, of course, is an important theme that is often talked about in the Bible. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, the Apostle Paul tells the people of Thessalonica to grieve deeply over the loss and death of their loved ones and friends. Grief, and anger, and deep emotions are important parts of who we are as human beings.

And yet Paul says to not grieve like the rest of the world who have no hope. For the good news is that in Jesus, those who have died believing in him will live forever. The good news is that as believers, even in our deepest grief, we share the hope and assurance of life everlasting.

My friends, the Psalms remind us that God wants you to be real with whatever feelings and emotions you have. He wants you to shake your fist at him, curse him if you need to, tell him exactly how you feel-believe me, he can take it. But as you do, keep your hope in him.

It is so sad today that so many in our world don't know this kind of hope and trust. It is so sad that so many are stuck in the miry clay of despair and see no way out. It is so sad that so many have no community to pray for them, to weep or rejoice with them, to help lift them up.

I have heard it said countless numbers of times in my 31 years as a pastor-people bearing witness that they just can't imagine how they would have made it through their tragedy, sickness, or loss without their church, the faith support of others, and without hope centered in God.

No wonder we need to be so passionate about our mission and outreach at Shepherd. No wonder we can never become complacent or selfish as believers and as a church. There are growing numbers of people each day who are getting stuck in the mud of life, and they don't have God's hope, or caring believers, to help them.

You and I, my friends, are called to be witnesses. We are called to share our real feelings and real stories with others. And we are called to help others see how God has lifted us out of the pit so we can stand on the solid rock. A personal story is always the best witness there is.

In Psalm 40, of course, the Psalmist, in response to God saving him, turns his words and focus to worshipping and praising God. His words proclaim, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him."

And yet in worshipping and praising God, the Psalmist says that the old worship rituals are not enough. "Sacrifice and offerings you did not desire…burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require." In other words, simply doing the right liturgy, or ritual, or outward sacrifice is not what it is all about.

Rather, he says, "I desire to do your will, my God, your law is within my heart. I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips Lord, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help."

My friends, it's when you trust your life and hope to Jesus, and when you patiently trust him to lift you out of the mud each day, that you want to worship him with all your heart and soul. And through that worship, you want to share God's saving love with others-just can't keep it in.

When I was on my internship from the seminary many years ago in Chicago, I had the opportunity to get to know an old retired Deaconess by the name of Sister Metta Hagen. An interesting thing about Sister Metta was that she turned 100 that year, and that she had been my grandmother's personal missionary nurse when my mother was born in Madagascar.

Sister Metta had been through many trials in her years as a missionary. She had seen much heartbreak and death as a nurse working among the native people. And when I met her, she was almost completely blind and was very hard of hearing. She sat mostly in silence each day.

And yet whenever I would visit her, and when I persistently shouted my name until she knew who I was, she would then sit up with a glow in her being and say in her Norwegian brogue, "Oh Natan, I'm so tankful. I'm so tankful to God for all his blessings."

Sister Metta knew what it was like to be in the slimy mud and clay of life. And yet as she waited patiently trusting God, he lifted her up time and again and put her on the solid ground. And in response her life was one of thankfulness, service, and witness for Jesus.

It is often said that a person only grows when they go through a crisis, or challenge in life. When life is going well, of course, we often feel that we don't need to rely on someone greater than ourselves, or that we don't need the church or Christian community. We feel we can stay the same, and handle life all by ourselves.

But the word crisis comes from the word crossroad. When we go through a crisis, or problem, or hurt, we face a crossroad with two choices. Will you trust in God, wait patiently for him, and rely on believers and the church to help you? Or will you put your hope in nothing, rely on yourself, and choose a life of bitterness and despair?

The true message and assurance of Psalm 40, and of God's word in the Bible, is that God is there for you in whatever you are going through, or in whatever may come in the days and years to come. God will never leave you or forsake you.

Jesus loves you, each one of you, with a love and grace that is beyond comprehension. He knows your suffering and pain, and he knows your joy and celebrations. He asks you to call out to him in faith. He calls you to be real, to tell him how you really feel, to let him hear all your emotions and feelings.

For as you are real, then Jesus will be real to you. He will hear your cry, and he will set your foot upon the solid rock. It is his promise to you.