The Muck and Mire

During Cousin Camp 2019, the kids swam daily in the lake beside our house. Because of the lack of rain, the water was shallow and most of the children could touch the bottom of the lake. Our soil is what is called post oak which sticks like glue when wet. One of my grandchildren in particular thought it was funny to bring up the muck and mire from the bottom and smearing it all over himself. Some of the kids thought the bottom was gross. Others enjoyed the water and didn’t focus on the clay.

The Horrible Pit

Psalms 40:1-2, NKJV, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my ways.”

 

David was in a desolate pit covered in muddy clay, figuratively speaking. He was bogged down in sin and depression. In life, it is so easy for us to focus on the clay that is bogging us down instead of the One who can help us to stand on a rock. David remembers what God had done for him. God heard his cry for help and set him on a rock. Instead of focusing on the muck we find ourselves standing, begin remembering all the great things God has done for you.

Trust the Lord

Psalms 40:4a, NKJV, “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust.”

David tells us how happy we will be trusting in the Lord. He encourages us to ignore what the world has to offer. Following the Lord brings us joy and peace, whereas, following the world brings unrest and places us in the muck and mire.

Open my Ears

Psalms 40:6-8, NKJV, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, ‘Behold I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of Me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”

David says, “You opened my ears to listen”. He is stressing that the important action is to pray and be obedient by listening to what the Lord has to say. You can’t hear Him? Ask Him to open your ears to hear His voice then listen as you read His word and pray.

Sanctified by the Sacrifice of Jesus

David helps us think about what God has done for us. Psalms 40:6-8 is quoted in Hebrews 10:5-10. Christ came into the world and quoted these scriptures. He fulfilled the scripture by His coming and His ultimate sacrifice for us.

Hebrews 10:4, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”

The yearly sacrifice of bulls and goats was only to remind the Israelites of their sins and help them realize they needed a Savior. Animal sacrifices could not take away the guilt of sin.

Hebrews 10:10, “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.”

Sanctified means set apart. We have been set apart by the will of God who offered the body of Jesus Christ as the sacrifice. This sacrifice was needed only once.

Hebrews 10:12, “but this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”

God offers Mercy and Forgiveness

Sin blinds us to the truth. Just like the muck and mire cover us in filth, sin covers us in filth until we can’t see the truth. David’s reminder to remember what God has done for us rather than focus on the filth of our sin, helps us to find the mercy and forgiveness He wants us to see clearly. Remember that Jesus died for us, cleans us and sets us upon a rock. The Rock.

Washed by His Blood

I am thankful we had soap and water after the kids went swimming in the muck and mire. We got them all cleaned up after each swim. I’m also thankful for the many things God has done for me. Because of Jesus Christ I am clean from the muck and mire. Not by anything I have done, but washed by His blood. Think of the many things God has done for you and trust that He will once put your feet upon the rock.

https://youtu.be/L6D7TAsA5Xg Nicol Sponberg Give Us Clean Hands

Paula Wallace

Additional reading:

God’s Hiding Place

https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2018/06/04/gods-hiding-place/