The readings this coming Sunday point to the glory of the Word made flesh:
- Jesus is the Servant of the LORD in whom we see the splendor of the LORD (Isaiah 49).
- Jesus is the One in whom all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form (Colossians 2).
- Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the Messiah (John 1).
Psalm 40 is the appointed psalm for the day. “Lord, Come to My Aid” is a fitting prayer for pastors to sing and pray at all times, but it is especially meaningful as we prepare to lead God’s people in worship this coming week….
“Lord, come to my aid.” I can think of many reasons why that might be your prayer and my prayer this week. Lord, help me to preach about the glory of Christ this Sunday. Lord, help me to complete faithfully all the things assigned to me and to catch up in the areas where I am falling behind. Lord, help me to have loving relationships with my wife, my children, my colleagues, and all the people you have put in my life. Lord, help me to say “no” to temptation and to throw off the sin that so easily entangles that I might run with perseverance the race you have marked out for me. Lord, help me to think in ways that are healthy and right. Protect me from myself. “Lord, come to my aid.”
One of the first things to notice about Psalm 40 is that this call for help is from the Messiah to his heavenly Father. David sang these words as the king of God’s people Israel, but he is a type pointing to Jesus. The one at the center of Psalm 40 is Jesus; he is original singer of Psalm 40. He is the one whose rescue matters most; he is the one designated by God to have immense impact on many others.
Everything written in the scroll was written about him. The whole Old Testament anticipated his coming. At God’s appointed time, God’s eternal Son was born as a descendant of King David. He took on human flesh, so that as our substitute he might say to his heavenly Father, “Here I am. I have come to do your will.”
Psalm 40 tells the story of the Messiah’s sufferings and deliverance. He was in the slimy pit as he carried the sins of the world to the cross. He called out and entrusted himself to his heavenly Father. Because the LORD is righteous, faithful, and loving, he brought saving help to Jesus, receiving his spirit when he died, raising him back to life on the third day, and exalting him to the highest place in heaven.
Deliverance and praise are the results, not only for Jesus, but for all who put their hope in him. Jesus was delivered into death for our transgressions and raised to life for our justification. Jesus is our righteousness. We gather around him and sing this Psalm with him. “LORD, come to my aid.”
Truly the LORD’s deeds are wonderful, and too many to declare. With holy joy and heartfelt thanks, we will speak of them as well as we can.