Psalm 40:1
In the light of Jesus’ command that the Lord’s Table be observed in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19), we want to consider, very briefly, the Patience of Jesus Christ. Our text is taken from Psalm 40:1 where the Psalmist said, “I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry.”
But why attribute the statement made by the Psalmist to Jesus? After His resurrection, our Lord taught His disciples, “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44). Indeed, Psalm 40 is one of the Psalms that are referred to as Messianic Psalms. A Messianic Psalm is any Psalm that is in large part about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Other things that we can learn about the Messiah from Psalm 40 are that the Messiah will reveal that the Hebrew Scriptures were written about Him (Psalm 40:6–8b; Luke 24:44; John 5:39–40); the Messiah will do God’s will (Psalm 40:7–8; John 5:30); the Messiah will not conceal His mission from believing people (Psalm 40:9–10; Luke 4:16–21); and the Messiah will be God’s sacrificial lamb for redemption of all mankind (Psalm 40:6–8a; Hebrews 10:10–13).
Psalm 40:1 states that the Messiah will be Patient. The word ‘Patience’ is used to describe a state of emotional calm or quietness in the face of provocation, misfortune, or unfavourable circumstances. It is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” It is the ability not to lose one’s temper when people are foolish and not to grow irritable when they seem unteachable. It is the ability to accept the folly, the perversity, the blindness, and the ingratitude of men while still remaining gracious, and toiling on. Patience is the spirit that bears insult and injury without bitterness or complaint. It is the spirit that can suffer unpleasant people with graciousness and fools without irritation. The most illuminating thing about it is that it is commonly used in the New Testament to describe the attitude of God towards men (Rom 2:4-note; Rom 9:22-note; 1 Tim 1:16; 1 Peter 3:20-note). If God had been a man, He would have wiped out this world long ago; but He has that patience that bears with all our sins and will not cast us off. Patience, like all the fruit of the Spirit, is evident in the life of Jesus.
The patience of Jesus Christ is seen in His patience with people (1 Timothy 1:16). Jesus was very patient with His sometimes slow-to-understand disciples, often repeating His teaching two or three times in an attempt to help them grow. Jesus Christ supremely displayed God’s patient character in His work of salvation. It took Paul a long time to understand that the way he was living his life was not pleasing to God, yet God was incredibly patient towards him and didn’t give up on him. Paul finally understood how he was disappointing God, and Paul experienced and responded to God’s love in Christ; two, His patience with God’s timing of events (John 7:1-10). Jesus Christ’s life was lived under the shadow of the cross. He was concerned that people should understand his ministry and therefore he exercised great patience, being directed by the Father in the priorities and timing of his ministry; and three, His patience in suffering (Matthew 26:39–42). All through His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, His trial of cruel mocking before Herod and Pilate, and His passion on the tree, He waited in the omnipotence of patience. No glance of wrath, no word of murmuring, no deed of vengeance came from God’s patient Lamb (1 Peter 2:21-23).
As followers of Christ, we are called to demonstrate patience in all our relationships and circumstances (Colossians 1:9–12; 3:12). In the world in which we live, patience is not the virtue it used to be. Our expectations have been raised and accelerated so rapidly by technology and material comfort that it is hard for us to be patient. Yet Ecclesiastes 7:8 reminds us, “The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (see also Psalm 37:7; Prov. 19:11; 25:15; 14:29; 15:18; 16:32). Jesus Christ’s patience must be appropriated by his followers, one, about fellow believers generally (Ephesians 4:2—”with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love”); two, about the weaker members of the body of Christ, the Church (1 Thessalonians 5:14—”And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them”).
God has been patient with us individually and with the entire human race, so we are to be patient with others.; three, in enduring life’s circumstances and sufferings (James 5:7–8 — “So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near”); four, in communicating the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2—”Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction”); and five, in living and waiting for the Lord’s coming (2 Peter 3:9,14,15—”The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.” What is the guaranteed positive outcome of being patient? The second half of Psalm 40:1 says, He turned to me and heard my cry. Neither Jesus the Head nor any one of the members of His body shall ever wait upon the LORD in vain. Take note of the word turned. It implies that, while waiting on God, Jesus cried out of the lowest depression, and God, in His condescending love, stooped to hear his feeble moans (Hebrews 5:7–10). What a marvel it is that our Lord Jesus had to cry as we do, wait as we do, and receive the Father’s help after exercising faith and pleading, just like we must do to receive the help we seek from God! The Son of David was brought very low, but he rose to victory, and by doing so, he teaches us how to experience the same glorious triumph. Let us, therefore, be clothed with patience, armed with prayer, and girded with faith, as we face every challenge.
If you want to give your life to Jesus Christ, you may offer this prayer to God: “Dear God, I thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins. I am sorry for my sins and repent of them all. I invite Jesus into my life right now to be my Lord and Saviour. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen”
Your eternal salvation and spiritual well-being are our concerns. If you prayed to accept Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, please write to let us know at the address below. You may also join us to worship God in the Yoruba language at 7.30 a.m. or in the English language at 9 a.m. every Sunday.
Good New Baptist Church,
47/49, Olufemi Road,
off Ogunlana Drive,
Surulere, Lagos.
