Psalm 40:2 says, “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.” This verse uses vivid imagery to describe God’s deliverance and salvation. Let’s break down the key parts of this verse:
“He drew me up”
This first phrase establishes that it is God who is doing the delivering and rescuing. The psalmist does not deliver himself, but rather God reaches down, takes hold of him, and pulls him up out of the pit. This emphasizes that salvation is a work of God’s grace, not man’s effort.
“The pit of destruction”
The “pit” describes a deep, treacherous hole that would be easy to fall into and impossible to escape from on one’s own. It represents danger, doom, and hopelessness. The psalmist feels helpless, trapped, and unable to rescue himself. The pit is further described as “of destruction,” emphasizing that it leads to death and ruin. This pictures the state of mankind without God – lost and helpless, doomed to destruction.
“Out of the miry bog”
“Miry bog” further emphasizes the trapped, hopeless state the psalmist was in before God’s deliverance. A miry bog is a wet, muddy, sticky pit that would be impossible to escape from once you sank down into it. You would only sink deeper the more you struggled. This represents the futility of trying to rescue oneself from the pit of destruction. The psalmist was stuck, unable to extricate himself from the mess and danger he was in.
“Set my feet upon a rock”
In contrast to the deep, muddy pit, God set the psalmist’s feet upon a rock. A rock represents safety, stability, and security. God did not just rescue him temporarily from immediate danger, but brought him to a firm, steady place where he could stand secure. The psalmist has been brought from floundering helplessly to standing firmly on solid ground.
“Making my steps secure”
God not only brought him up from the pit and set him on a rock, but the psalmist says God made his “steps secure.” After being delivered, the psalmist is able to walk forward with steadiness and sure footing, no longer in danger of stumbling or becoming trapped again. He has been granted stability for the journey ahead. This emphasizes the ongoing security of those who have been rescued by God.
In summary
Psalm 40:2 uses the imagery of being stuck in a deep, muddy pit to illustrate the helpless, hopeless condition of people without God. But God reaches down in mercy, pulls us up out of the pit, sets us on solid ground, and steadies our steps going forward. This vivid picture demonstrates the deliverance and salvation that come only through God’s grace and power. Though we cannot rescue ourselves, God can and does rescue those who trust in Him.
Old Testament context
Psalm 40 has connections back to the Old Testament story of Joseph. Joseph’s brothers threw him into a deep pit (Genesis 37:24), representing sin and human malice sending Joseph into a place of despair. Yet God sovereignly worked to raise Joseph up out of dire circumstances for His glory (Genesis 50:20). The psalmist likely had Joseph’s story in mind as part of the background of this psalm.
Psalm 40 also recalls Jeremiah’s experience of being thrown into a cistern and sinking into the mud at the bottom (Jeremiah 38:6). Jeremiah saw this as a metaphor for sinking into despair because of sin and trouble. Yet he prayed for God to rescue and raise him up (Jeremiah 38:9). The psalmist taps into these Old Testament references of being stuck in a pit to illustrate the thankful joy of those God has delivered.
New Testament connections
There are several New Testament passages that use similar “miry clay” imagery when discussing salvation:
- Jesus told a parable about a man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers who stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead in a ditch (Luke 10:30-37). This pictured mankind’s state of being helpless and in need of rescue.
- Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 when announcing His ministry, saying He came “to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Luke 4:18). He came to set people free who were trapped in sin and despair.
- Hebrews 2:14-15 says Jesus came to free people held in slavery by fear of death. His sacrifice broke sin’s power and rescued people from that helpless condition.
- Peter highlights that Christians were rescued from the futile ways inherited from their forefathers (1 Peter 1:18). God drew them up out of sin, darkness, and error.
So the New Testament contains many connections and allusions back to this imagery of being trapped helplessly in the pit of despair and needing God’s mighty hand to deliver and set free.
Connection to the Gospel
This verse illustrates the human condition that makes the Gospel necessary. All people are trapped in the “pit” of sin and death, unable to rescue themselves. No amount of struggle or effort can overcome sin’s power and consequences. Into this hopeless situation, God reaches down in Christ to save and deliver. Jesus’s death on the cross pays sin’s penalty, so God can righteously liberate people from sin and death. He lifts believers up out of the pit and places them securely in Christ.
Furthermore, this verse emphasizes that salvation is entirely God’s work from beginning to end. The psalmist did not raise himself up, but was wholly dependent on God to lift him on the rock and steady his feet. In the same way, Christians cannot save themselves through good works or religious devotion. God alone brings salvation through grace, received by faith in Christ.
This passage brings great comfort and assurance to Christians. No matter what situation they face in this fallen world, their feet are firmly planted on the rock of Christ. He will securely guide them through any storm or trial. They can have confidence in God’s promise and power to rescue. What a blessing that in Christ there is redemption, security, stability, and hope!
Applying the imagery today
The vivid imagery of being stuck in a muddy pit and lifted to safety can have many meaningful applications for Christians today:
- It reminds us of the seriousness of sin. Often we underestimate sin’s danger and become complacent. This imagery jolts us into remembering that sin traps us in a fatal pit we cannot escape from ourselves.
- It motivates us to gratitude and praise for our salvation. Recognizing the helpless predicament Christ rescued us from makes us marvel at and rejoice in God’s grace toward us even more.
- It encourages us when we go through trials or periods of spiritual dryness. We remember that our standing with God does not depend on our feelings or circumstances in this life. He has permanently set our feet on the rock of Christ.
- It spurs us to pray for those who are still trapped in sin’s pit without Christ. We remember God alone has the power to reach down and pull them to salvation. We must depend on Him to draw people to the Savior.
Psalm 40:2’s timeless imagery reminds us of the joy, security, and purpose we have in Christ. We were hopeless, but now are saved. We were trapped, but now are free. Understanding this truth fuels our worship of the God who powerfully and mercifully delivers.
Conclusion
Psalm 40:2 beautifully encapsulates the salvation message of Scripture using the metaphor of being lifted from a deep, muddy pit. This vividly captures the helpless estate of sinners unable to rescue themselves, and the mighty power of God to reach down in love and draw them to safety. The solid rock signifies the security believers have in Christ, who delivers them not just momentarily but eternally. This verse will continue to inspire praise and gratitude in Christians across all generations for the wonderful rescue they have in Jesus.