Text: Psalms 40:1-3

1, I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2, He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3, And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

Introduction:

We find here in these verses David uses a parable to describe what God has done for Him. He starts in verse one by describing God’s response to his pleas.

Psalms 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

David’s use of the Parable of the Potter paints a beautiful picture of what God did for David and is meant to teach us some powerful lessons.

Jeremiah 18:1-2

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

From the Parable of the Potter of verses 2-3, let us consider Five Teachings of the Potter.

    1.      What God Can Do That No One Else Can

Psalms 40:2a

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,…

    a.  Only God could make us out of clay.

Genesis 2:7

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 3:19

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Psalms 139:14

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Acts 4:12

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 10:43

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

1 John 4:9

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

    2.             Jesus Our Rock

Psalms 40:2b

… and set my feet upon a rock,…

alms 18:2

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalms 62:6

He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

Exodus 33:21-22

21 And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

1 Corinthians 10:4

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Matthew 7:24-27

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

    3.             God Has A Plan For You

Psalms 40:2c

…and established my goings.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 6:9-13

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Psalms 23:2-3

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Romans 8:14, 16

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Ephesians 5:17-18

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Philippians 2:5

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

    4.             Praise Our Maker

Psalms 40:3a

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:…

James 5:13

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Psalms 13:6

I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Psalms 57:7 (Psalms 108:1)

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

    5.             Mirroring Christ To Others

Psalms 40:3b

…many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

Matthew 5:14-16

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Philippians 2:15

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

    6.             Closing

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Romans 9:21a

Hath not the potter power over the clay,…

Isaiah 29:16b

…for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not?...