Psalm 40 Poem v.6-9

The incarnation and sacrifice of Christ

by Isaac Watts

Thus saith the Lord, Your work is vain,
Give your burnt offerings o’er;
In dying goats, and bullocks slain,
My soul delights no more.

Then spake the Savior, “Lo, I’m here,
My God, to do Thy will;
Whate’er Thy sacred books declare,
Thy Servant shall fulfill.

Thy law is ever in My sight,
I keep it near My heart;
Mine ears are opened with delight,
To what Thy lips impart.

And see, the blessed Redeemer comes,
Th’eternal Son appears,
And at th’appointed time assumes
The body God prepares.

Much He revealed His Father’s grace,
And much His truth He showed,
And preached the way of righteousness
Where great assemblies stood.

His Father’s honor touched His heart,
He pitied sinners’ cries,
And, to fulfill a Savior’s part,
Was made a sacrifice.

No blood of beasts on altars shed
Could wash the conscience clean;
But the rich sacrifice He paid
Atones for all our sin.

Then was the great salvation spread,
And Satan’s kingdom shook;
Thus by the woman’s promised seed
The serpent’s head was broke.

Reflection-What is Salvation?

After his disastrous defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon, so the story goes, met with some of his leading generals to analyze the battle’s flawed strategies. In the course of their discussions, the little general pointed at England on the colored map before them and said bitterly, “Except for that red spot I would be master of the world.”

Satan could say the same thing today except he would point to a cross on a hill outside the walls of Old Jerusalem. Aren’t you thankful for that red spot of Calvary that rescued this world from the control of our great enemy?  -JOE CREWS

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