Psalms40

The psalmist recounts his patient waiting for the Lord, who delivered him from despair and established his path, inspiring a new song of praise. He emphasizes that God desires obedience and a willing heart more than sacrifices, as he delights in doing God's will and openly declares His truth. The psalm concludes with a plea for continued divine help against overwhelming evils and adversaries, trusting in God's swift deliverance despite his own neediness.

Thanksgiving for Deliverance

1
For the leader. A psalm of David: I waited patiently for ADONAI, till he turned toward me and heard my cry. ​
2
He brought me up from the roaring pit, up from the muddy ooze, and set my feet on a rock, making my footing firm. ​
3
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will look on in awe and put their trust in ADONAI. ​
4
How blessed the man who trusts in ADONAI and does not look to the arrogant or to those who rely on things that are false. ​
5
How much you have done, ADONAI my God! Your wonders and your thoughts toward us -none can compare with you! I would proclaim them, I would speak about them; but there's too much to tell! ​

Obedience and Delight in God's Will

6
Sacrifices and grain offerings you don't want; burnt offerings and sin offerings you don't demand. Instead, you have given me open ears; ​
7
so then I said, "Here I am! I'm coming! In the scroll of a book it is written about me. ​
8
Doing your will, my God, is my joy; your Torah is in my inmost being. ​
9
I have proclaimed what is right in the great assembly; I did not restrain my lips, ADONAI, as you know. ​
10
I did not hide your righteousness in my heart but declared your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal your grace and truth from the great assembly."

Lament and Prayer for Deliverance

11
ADONAI, don't withhold your mercy from me. Let your grace and truth preserve me always. ​
12
For numberless evils surround me; my iniquities engulf me - I can't even see; there are more of them than hairs on my head, so that my courage fails me. ​
13
Be pleased, ADONAI, to rescue me! ADONAI, hurry and help me! ​
14
May those who seek to sweep me away be disgraced and humiliated together. May those who take pleasure in doing me harm be turned back and put to confusion. ​
15
May those who jeer at me, "Aha! Aha!" be aghast because of their shame. ​
16
But may all those who seek you be glad and take joy in you. May those who love your salvation say always, "ADONAI is great and glorious!" ​
17
But I am poor and needy; may Adonai think of me. You are my helper and rescuer; my God, don't delay! ​

Study Notes for Psalms 40

Verse 1

The psalm opens with a retrospective testimony, emphasizing the deliberate act of patient waiting (a characteristic of true piety) and God’s immediate, intimate response to the supplicant’s distress.

Verse 2

The 'horrible pit' and 'miry clay' are classic metaphors for overwhelming distress, danger, or a near-death experience. God’s intervention is pictured as establishing a firm, saving foundation ('rock') for stability and security.

Verse 3

The 'new song' is the result of salvation, intended not just for personal relief but as a public testimony. The purpose of the deliverance is evangelistic: to inspire faith and reverence in others ('many shall see it, and fear').

Verse 4

This verse functions as a concluding beatitude for the introductory section, defining true blessedness as exclusive trust in Yahweh, contrasting it sharply with reliance on human pride or deceitful idols.

Verse 5

The psalmist moves from personal deliverance to the vast scope of God’s 'wonderful works' and providential 'thoughts.' The sheer abundance of divine activity toward humanity makes them impossible to fully number or comprehend.

Verse 6

This pivotal prophetic verse establishes that true worship requires internal devotion and obedience more than external ritual sacrifices, a theme stressed throughout the prophets. 'Mine ears hast thou opened' (or 'dug out') implies God has prepared the servant to hear and obey.

Verse 7

The phrase 'Lo, I come' is the obedient response of the servant. The reference to what is 'written of me' likely refers to God’s plan or the divine requirement set forth in the Law (Torah). This verse is famously applied to Christ’s willing obedience in Hebrews 10:5-7.

Verse 8

The ideal of obedience is defined here as internal delight rather than mere external compliance. The law is 'within my heart,' signifying a profound commitment to God’s will as the source of joy.

Verse 9

The psalmist stresses his commitment to public testimony; his deliverance and the truth of God were not kept private. He 'preached righteousness' openly in the 'great congregation' (the assembly of Israel).

Verse 11

The mood shifts abruptly from confident praise to urgent petition (lament). The psalmist appeals to God's covenant loyalty—His 'lovingkindness and thy truth'—as the only basis for preservation amid overwhelming trouble.

Verse 12

The distress is acknowledged as both external (evils) and internal (iniquities). The burden of sin has caused spiritual despair, making him unable to look up and causing his heart to fail.

Verse 13

The repetition of the plea for swift deliverance ('make haste to help me') is characteristic of the lament genre, reflecting the supplicant’s desperate urgency for immediate divine intervention.

Verse 14

These verses are imprecatory, calling for the public shame and confusion of the enemies. This reflects a desire for divine justice and the vindication of God’s righteous servant.

Verse 15

The mockery 'Aha, aha' is an expression of malicious gloating over the downfall of the righteous. The psalmist asks that their reward be desolation proportionate to their shame.

Verse 16

In contrast to the fate of the wicked, the psalmist prays for the joy and magnification of God among the righteous community—those who actively seek and love God’s salvation.

Verse 17

The psalm concludes with a final declaration of utter dependence, emphasizing the psalmist's weakness ('poor and needy') coupled with the unwavering trust that the sovereign Lord actively cares for him ('thinketh upon me').

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