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.
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Thanksgiving for Deliverance

1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. ​
2
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. ​
3
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. ​
4
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. ​
5
Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. ​

Obedience and Delight in God's Will

6
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. ​
7
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, ​
8
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. ​
9
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. ​
10
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Lament and Prayer for Deliverance

11
Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. ​
12
For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. ​
13
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. ​
14
Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. ​
15
Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. ​
16
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. ​
17
But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. ​

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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