GOD’S AMAZING GRACE –

The Law of Moses clearly stated that anyone guilty of murder or adultery be condemned to die. David had just committed both of these horrible crimes with Bathsheba and against her husband, so he now felt like a dead man walking. But the same prophet that God sent with a message to hold David accountable and suffer the consequences of his sin, also let David know that God’s grace was available to save him from certain death. So with this psalm David wanted to thank God for not throwing him away in the trash like damaged goods, but restoring him through His love, grace and mercy.

“I hoped and hoped the LORD Eternal would respond to me; finally He reached out and lifted me up. He pulled me out of the big mess I was in, and helped me straighten out my life so I could move on. This inspired me to write a new song so I could praise my One True God for what He had done. Many will hear it and find the story incredible; this will encourage them to absolutely trust the LORD Eternal. You should count your blessings if you make the LORD Eternal the one you trust the most; and do not pay any attention to those who look down on you; those who know nothing about sincerity. O LORD Eternal and One True God, You have done so many wonderful things on our behalf; things that only You could have done. If I were to try and tell the whole story, I would run out of time before I ran out of miracles. The one thing I learned that helped me understand what I read in Your Word, was that You are not interested in what we can try and do to save ourselves; that’s why I want to do it Your way, and have Your Word etched in my heart. As You know, I have testified about this before the congregation, I left nothing out, O LORD Eternal. I made sure they heard how good You were to me; I told them all about Your trustworthiness and saving grace. I wanted them to know the truth about Your undying love. That’s why I know You will always have compassion for me; that Your undying love and assurance will always be available to keep me safe.” Psalm 40:1-11

Reflection: Born in 1725 to a poor family, a young lad saw his mom die when he was only seven. At age eleven, with only two years of education, he went to sea with his dad. There he learned the skills of a mariner, as well as the reckless ways of a sailor, which caused him to end up being thrown off the ship and spend fifteen months exiled as a half-starved slave in Africa. At age twenty-three he was finally rescued by a British merchant ship. On their way back to England they encountered a severe storm which lasted for eleven hours, but managed to survive and arrive safely. For the next six years he was master of his own slave ship. One day someone gave him a copy of a book entitled, “Imitation of Christ” by Thomas à Kempis. He began reading this book while out at sea. One day, as he looked out over the ocean waves, he remembered those terrible years and that horrible night tossing on the white caps. So this once forlorn and sinful sailor composed a poem that to this day remains the most popular hymn in Christendom: “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.” No doubt David felt much like that seaman, John Newton, as does every person once they freely receive God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness instead of the divine punishment they deserve.