Food for Thought by David Jackson

Blessings come from patiently waiting.

Thomas Edison’s own notes said that he had failed many times to improve on the current models for an electric light bulb. His total was 2,774 failed attempts that didn’t work. Most of us would have quit long before we reached number 2,775. But that was the one that brought great fame to Edison and great convenience for us!

A book on my shelf is called, Scientific Blunders: A Brief History of How Wrong Scientists Can Sometimes Be. The author makes the point that “scientific blunders actually add to knowledge by demonstrating what is wrong with a hypothesis.” He illustrates this idea with a story about physiologist John Carew Eccles and philosopher of science Karl Popper. 

Eccles was trying to prove that the mind was separate from the brain (now rejected by scientists) and guided his work on nerve transmission by this conviction. For years he worked to demonstrate his ideas, but the results were always negative. Popper pointed out that his efforts had not been wasted, because he had proved that his idea was false, and another explanation was needed. Eccles then explored the synapses of the brain, resulting in great advances in medicine and pharmacology. He received knighthood in 1958 and he won the Nobel Prize in 1963.

These examples demonstrate from physical life on earth the truth of the beatitude from Psalm 40:4, which says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.” A person living by faith in God has the security of being cared for by the One who knows what we need before we ask him (Matt. 6:8, 32). It is truly a blessing to know that we can “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1Pet. 5:7).”

When we see the world we live in for what is actually is, it is “filled with wonders” to impress us with God’s power and creativity. Modern science keeps on showing us the marvelous things the Creator placed here for our benefit and enjoyment. In this psalm David celebrates the sheer number of “the things you planned for us” as being “too many to declare.” The song we sing says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one,” is asking the impossible if David is right!

Think for a minute about specific examples from the Bible. Abraham lived a life filled with God’s presence and guidance for 175 years as he “was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). He was able to do this “because he considered him faithful who had made the promise” (v. 11).

The Exodus of Israel from Egypt occurred only because of his love for the descendants of Abraham (Deut. 4:37; 7:7-11). David was elevated from the shepherd’s field to the palace in Jerusalem because he was the man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14). The promise of a future prophet and redeemer (Deut. 18:15; Isa. 9:6-8) is the supreme blessing for those who “make the Lord their trust.”

According to this psalm, what we read here is the key to a successful life: “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”