He put a new song in my mouth, and of praise to our God. – Psalm 40:3
Henry Dana Washburn was born in Vermont in 1832. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and was later elected to two terms as a representative in Congress from the state of Indiana. He was appointed to be the surveyor general of the state of Montana. In that position, he headed an exploration into what would become Yellowstone National Park. Mount Washburn, located within the park, is named for him. It was Washburn who observed the predictability of a park geyser, which he dubbed Old Faithful. It is not the most beautiful of the geysers, nor does it send steam and water the highest, but it is steadfastly reliable. For most visitors to Yellowstone, it is a ”must-see.” They confidently trust it will perform.
In Psalm 40, David recounts God’s mercies and how He proved to be reliable after patiently waiting for Him to act so that David could trust Him. When he found himself in a deep, soggy place he called the pit, not only did God rescue him from the mire, He set David’s feet upon solid ground, and then gave him a song of worship! There would be many times in David’s life when he would call upon the Lord to deliver him, and he expected that God would always, faithfully come through.
No one is immune to calamities, dire circumstances, or sorrows. You can learn from the pattern in David’s life, as He calls upon the Lord and then waits patiently for Him to work, confident in God’s faithfulness. He will do the same for you and, like David, go ahead and sing about it in response. Theologian John Piper says, “People who never sing, at least in their heart, are people who do not cherish anything very deeply, or feel intense gratitude for anything. They are the sort of people who take all life for granted. They never soar with a sense of joy in their heart.” Let your life be one of new songs, melodies out of your own heart, praising God in testimony that others will see and hear. Pray for music and worship leaders in America’s churches to always seek to honor God in the selections they make.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 40:3
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.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Psalm 40:1-3, Ephesians 5:15-21
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 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.
3 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.
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
