Psalms 40: 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.4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
David described his battles and the condition he was in spiritually. It worked on him and pulled him down. It was like being in a horrible pit. More than once as a kid we’d play in the graveyard after a grave had been dug. I fell in more than once. It was hard for a kid to get out of a six foot deep hole. David said he was in a pit with a floor of miry clay. He couldn’t begin to get out. Sometimes we bring it on ourselves. It’s our fault when we slip and fall in a pit. Then sometimes the devil lays a snare over the pit. We get cold on the Lord and walk toward the pit and one step and we’re caught. The devil will try to put us in a pit, but he’ll also pit things and people against us. If we don’t keep your eyes on the Lord we’ll fall in in. We can’t get out ourselves. We’ll lose grip on the slippery walls.
Are you in a pit because you’re not saved? Have you backslid and find yourself in a pit? Have troubles and trials got you in a pit? Are darkness and dampness closing in on you? He—Jesus—can bring you out. You need help. Never think you can do it on your own. I’m thankful for a Savior who can bring us out no matter how far down or miry it is. There is no distance great enough that God can’t reach down and bring you and me out.
Joseph was put in a pit by his brothers. They sold him and he ended up in Egypt in an even greater pit—prison. His brothers lied to their father and said Joseph was dead. But Joseph trusted God and he brought him out. Samson didn’t realize Delilah had cut his hair while he slept and that his strength was gone. He was captured and blinded and put in a pit. Later on he was put at the grinder to run it. Even if he could have gotten away, he couldn’t go anywhere because he couldn’t see. The people had a feast to their idols and tied Samson to the pillars of the building. He bowed his head and admitted his sin. He asked for strength to defeat the enemy. God brought him out of the backsliding pit. He pulled on the pillars and killed more enemies in his death than he did in his life. Daniel was put in a pit of a den of lions. The king yelled down the next morning to see if Daniel was still alive. He was because God had shut the mouths of the lions. God can turn your den of lions around too. He can take the mire out of the clay. He’ll pull you out and put your feet on solid ground.
Many were put in pits but God brought them out. Jeremiah was put in a pit. They had trouble getting him out and had to tie old rags together because the ropes weren’t long enough. God can get you out if you take the rope he sends to you, AND it will be long enough. The only opening of the pit is above and the only way out is above. It takes three—God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is reaching to you through his Word. The rope of the gospel is for the lost. Grab it. If you are saved, put faith in what the Word says. Embrace it. Draw it up tight and it will pull you out.
Once you’re out of the pit you’ll realize how much better it is out than in. God will set your feet on solid ground, establish you and put a song in your heart. Are you in a pit? Come and get out of it today.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 