FEBRUARY 25
Psalm 40:2-3, “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. 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.”
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.
He brought me out of the miry clay,
He set my feet on the Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today,
A song of praise, hallelujah!
-Henry J. Zelley, 1898
An aggravated murder suspect, somehow managed to escape a psychiatric hospital in Salem, Oregon. However, his attempt at freedom was short-lived. He found himself trapped in a situation he couldn’t get himself out of.
It was an emergency call reporting a possible dead body that led to his rescue. Far north of Salem, the man was found stuck in the mud up to his armpits, about 75 feet from solid ground. For 12 long hours, he struggled helplessly, his efforts only trapping him deeper in the muck. He was utterly powerless, until a rescue team arrived, using ropes and ladders to pull him to safety.
Ironically, the man’s name was Christopher Pray. Had he only heeded the words of his name, and prayed, he might have experienced an earlier spiritual rescue—one that could have spared him from the troubles that led him to this desperate situation.
Spiritually speaking, the miry clay speaks to the troubles we encounter in this world, and especially the entanglement of sin. The psalmist speaks of a “pit of destruction,” and that’s an apt description of what happens with sin, as has been said, “If you find yourself at the bottom of a pit, stop digging.” Sin is much like digging a pit in which to bury oneself. Paul reminded the believers in Ephesus of how they’d been stuck in their sins and trespasses, doomed to destruction as children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3).
The problem with sin, as with the miry clay, is that it is impossible to rescue oneself. Assistance is needed. David cried out to the Lord, and the Lord “drew (him) up from the pit of destruction” (Psalm 40:2). The God who is rich in mercy is well able to rescue from sin’s guilt and power. On the other side of rescue is rejoicing. After being welcomed by his father, following his time spent wallowing in the pigs’ mire, the prodigal son was invited to a grand feast and joyous celebration. Every rescued sinner has a song of praise to sing. The choir of the redeemed sings to the vast audience of others needing rescue. And you, believer, are a part of that choir.
Having been rescued from the mire of sin, the choir of the redeemed have a song of praise to sing!
Application Questions: Remember when you cried out to God for salvation? How joyous were you? Have there been times since you’ve felt as if you were stuck in the mud? What lessons can be learned from the psalmist’s experience?
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