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Commentary on Psalms 40 verses 1–5
In these verses we have,
I. The great distress and trouble that the psalmist had been in. He had been plunged into a horrible pit and into miry clay (Psa 40:2), out of which he could not work himself, and in which he found himself sinking yet further. He says nothing here either of the sickness of his body or the insults of his enemies, and therefore we have reason to think it was some inward disquiet and perplexity of spirit that was now his greatest grievance. Despondency of spirit under the sense of Gods withdrawings, and prevailing doubts and fears about the eternal state, are indeed a horrible pit and miry clay, and have been so to many a dear child of God.
II. His humble attendance upon God and his believing expectations from him in those depths: I waited patiently for the Lord, Psa 40:1. Waiting, I waited. He expected relief from no other than from God; the same hand that tears must heal, that smites must bind up (Hos 6:1), or it will never be done. From God he expected relief, and he was big with expectation, not doubting but it would come in due time. There is power enough in God to help the weakest, and grace enough in God to help the unworthiest, of all his people that trust in him. But he waited patiently, which intimates that the relief did not come quickly; yet he doubted not but it would come, and resolved to continue believing, and hoping, and praying, till it did come. Those whose expectation is from God may wait with assurance, but must wait with patience. Now this is very applicable to Christ. His agony, both in the garden and on the cross, was the same continued, and it was a horrible pit and miry clay. Then was his soul troubled and exceedingly sorrowful; but then he prayed, Father, glorify thy name; Father, save me; then he kept hold of his relation to his Father, "My God, my God," and thus waited patiently for him.
III. His comfortable experience of God's goodness to him in his distress, which he records for the honour of God and his own and others' encouragement.
1.God answered his prayers: He inclined unto me and heard my cry. Those that wait patiently for God, though they may wait long, do not wait in vain. Our Lord Jesus was heard in that he feared, Heb 5:7. Nay, he was sure that the Father heard him always.
2.He silenced his fears, and stilled the tumult of his spirits, and gave him a settled peace of conscience (Psa 40:2): "He brought me up out of that horrible pit of despondency and despair, scattered the clouds, and shone brightly upon my soul, with the assurances of his favour; and not only so, but set my feet upon a rock and established my goings." Those that have been under the prevalency of a religious melancholy, and by the grace of God have been relieved, may apply this very feelingly to themselves; they are brought up out of a horrible pit. (1.) The mercy is completed by the setting of their feet upon a rock, where they find firm footing, are as much elevated with the hopes of heaven as they were before cast down with the fears of hell. Christ is the rock on which a poor soul may stand fast, and on whose meditation alone between us and God we can build any solid hopes or satisfaction. (2.) It is continued in the establishment of their goings. Where God has given a stedfast hope he expects there should be a steady regular conversation; and, if that be the blessed fruit of it, we have reason to acknowledge, with abundance of thankfulness, the riches and power of his grace.
3.He filled him with joy, as well as peace, in believing: "He has put a new song in my mouth; he has given me cause to rejoice and a heart to rejoice." He was brought, as it were, into a new world, and that filled his mouth with a new song, even praise to our God; for to his praise and glory must all our songs be sung. Fresh mercies, especially such as we never before received, call for new songs. This is applicable to our Lord Jesus in his reception to paradise, his resurrection from the grave, and his exaltation to the joy and glory set before him; he was brought out of the horrible pit, set upon a rock, and had a new song put into his mouth.
IV. The good improvement that should be made of this instance of God's goodness to David.
1.David's experience would be an encouragement to many to hope in God, and, for that end, he leaves it here upon record: Many shall see, and fear, and trust in the Lord. They shall fear the Lord and his justice, which brought David, and the Son of David, into that horrible pit, and shall say, If this be done to the green tree, what shall be done to the dry? They shall fear the Lord and his goodness, in filling the mouth of David, and the Son of David, with new songs of joy and praise. There is a holy reverent fear of God, which is not only consistent with, but the foundation of, our hope in him. They shall not fear him and shun him, but fear him and trust in him in their greatest straits, not doubting but to find him as able and ready to help as David did in his distress. God's dealings with our Lord Jesus are our great encouragement to trust in God; when it pleased the Lord to bruise him, and put him to grief for our sins, he demanded our debt from him; and when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand, he made it to appear that he had accepted the payment he made and was satisfied with it; and what greater encouragement can we have to fear and worship God and to trust in him?. See Rom 4:25; Rom 5:1, Rom 5:2. The psalmist invites others to make God their hope, as he did, by pronouncing those happy that do so (Psa 40:4): "Blessed is the man that makes the Lord his trust, and him only (that has great and good thoughts of him, and is entirely devoted to him), and respects not the proud, does not do as those do that trust in themselves, nor depends upon those who proudly encourage others to trust in them; for both the one and the other turn aside to lies, as indeed all those do that turn aside from God." This is applicable, particularly, to our faith in Christ. Blessed are those that trust in him, and in his righteousness alone, and respect not the proud Pharisees, that set up their own righteousness in competition with that, that will not be governed by their dictates, nor turn aside to lies, with the unbelieving Jews, who submit not to the righteousness of God, Rom 10:3. Blessed are those that escape this temptation.
2.The joyful sense he had of this mercy led him to observe, with thankfulness, the many other favours he had received from God, Psa 40:5. When God puts new songs into our mouth we must not forget our former songs, but repeat them: "Many, O Lord my God! are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, both for me and others; this is but one of many." Many are the benefits with which we are daily loaded both by the providence and by the grace of God. (1.) They are his works, not only the gifts of his bounty, but the operations of his power. He works for us, he works in us, and thus he favours us with matter, not only for thanks, but for praise. (2.) They are his wonderful works, the contrivance of them admirable, his condescension to us in bestowing them upon us admirable; eternity itself will be short enough to be spent in the admiration of them. (3.) All his wonderful works are the product of his thoughts to us-ward. He does all according to the counsel of his own will (Eph 1:11), the purposes of his grace which he purposed in himself, Eph 3:11. They are the projects of infinite wisdom, the designs of everlasting love (Co1 2:7, Jer 31:3), thoughts of good and not of evil, Jer 29:11. His gifts and callings will therefore be without repentance, because they are not sudden resolves, but the result of his thoughts, his many thoughts, to us-ward. (4.) They are innumerable; they cannot be methodized or reckoned up in order. There is an order in all God's works, but there are so many that present themselves to our view at once that we know not where to begin nor which to name next; the order of them, and their natural references and dependencies, and how the links of the golden chain are joined, are a mystery to us, and what we shall not be able to account for till the veil be rent and the mystery of God finished. Nor can they be counted, not the very heads of them. When we have said the most we can of the wonders of divine love to us we must conclude with an et caetera - and such like, and adore the depth, despairing to find the bottom.
"Blessed is that man that makes the name of the Lord his trust, and has not respected vanities or lying madnesses" [Psalm 40:4]. Behold the way by which you would fain have gone. Behold the "multitude that fill the Broad way." It is not without reason "that" road leads to the amphitheatre. It is not without reason it leads to Death. The "broad way" leads unto death, [Matthew 7:13] its breadth delights for time: its end is straitness to all eternity. Aye; but the multitudes murmur; the multitudes are rejoicing together; the multitudes are hastening along; the multitudes are flocking together! Do not thou imitate them; do not turn aside after them: they are "vanities, and lying madnesses." Let the Lord your God be your hope. Hope for nothing else from the Lord your God; but let the Lord your God Himself be your hope. For many persons hope to obtain from God's hands riches, and many perishable and transitory honours; and, in short, anything else they hope to obtain at God's hands, except only God Himself. But do thou seek after your God Himself: nay, indeed, despising all things else, make your way unto Him! Forget other things, remember Him. Leave other things behind, and "press forward" [Philippians 3:14] unto Him. Surely it is He Himself, who set you right, when turned away from the right path; who, now that you are set in the right path, guides you aright, who guides you to your destination. Let Him then be your hope, who both guides you, and guides you to your destination. Whither does worldly covetousness lead you? And to what point does it conduct you at the last? Thou at first desired a farm; then you would possess an estate; you would shut out your neighbours; having shut them out, you set your heart on the possessions of other neighbours; and extended your covetous desires till you had reached the shore: arriving at the shore, thou covet the islands: having made the earth your own, you would haply seize upon heaven. Leave thou all your loves. He who made heaven and earth is more beautiful than all.
Among other things, the Lord’s name is eternal Savior. The one who puts his trust in the Lord’s name is the one who believes that he must be saved by the Lord’s grace rather than by his own merits.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 40:4 profoundly articulates the blessedness of the individual whose ultimate security, confidence, and reliance are found exclusively in the LORD. This divine favor and deep spiritual flourishing are bestowed upon those who not only place their unwavering trust in God but also actively reject the arrogance and self-sufficiency of the proud, and steadfastly refuse to embrace falsehood or idolatry. The verse thus delineates a clear path to genuine spiritual well-being, rooted in humility, integrity, and an exclusive, unwavering faith in the character and promises of the one true God.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 40:4 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The primary device is Antithesis, where the blessed man's positive attributes (placing his trust in the LORD) are sharply contrasted with the negative characteristics he rejects (not respecting the proud, nor turning aside to lies). This creates a clear dichotomy, illuminating the distinct paths of righteousness and wickedness. The verse also utilizes Parallelism, specifically a form of negative antithetical parallelism in the latter two clauses ("respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies"), which reinforces the type of conduct the blessed man steadfastly avoids. The entire verse functions as a Proverbial Statement, offering a concise, timeless truth about the nature of genuine blessedness and the character required to attain it. Furthermore, the opening word "Blessed" (Hebrew: ʼesher, H835) acts as an Inclusio with other beatitudes found throughout the Psalter, particularly Psalm 1:1, drawing the reader into a broader theological conversation about the path to divine favor and flourishing.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 40:4 articulates a foundational theological principle: genuine blessedness flows from an exclusive and active trust in the LORD, coupled with a decisive rejection of pride and falsehood. This principle resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing that human flourishing and true peace are contingent upon a right relationship with God, characterized by humility, integrity, and unwavering reliance on His character. It underscores the biblical understanding that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, and that His truth is the only reliable guide in a world filled with deception and transient promises. The verse implicitly highlights God's own character as perfectly trustworthy and truthful, making reliance on Him the only rational and spiritually beneficial choice for humanity. This concept of blessedness is not merely about fleeting emotional happiness or material prosperity, but about a profound state of divine favor and spiritual well-being that is deeply rooted in one's orientation towards God and His immutable ways.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 40:4 serves as a profound mirror, inviting us to critically examine the true foundations of our lives and where our ultimate trust lies. In a world that often celebrates self-reliance, material success, and superficial appearances, this verse calls us back to a radical dependence on God alone. It challenges us to identify and dismantle any idols of pride or self-sufficiency we might harbor, whether in our achievements, our intellect, our resources, or even our spiritual disciplines. Furthermore, it compels us to scrutinize what influences we allow into our lives, urging us to reject the allure of arrogance and the pervasive presence of falsehood, whether overt lies, subtle deceptions that promise fulfillment apart from God, or ideologies that contradict His revealed truth. Living out this verse means cultivating a humble heart that acknowledges God's sovereignty in every circumstance and committing to a life of unwavering integrity, where truth is cherished, pursued, and embodied above all else. This path, though often counter-cultural and demanding, is the divinely ordained way to experience true, abiding blessedness and spiritual flourishing that transcends fleeting circumstances and offers eternal security.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean to "make the LORD his trust"?
Answer: To "make the LORD his trust" (Hebrew: mibṭâch, H4009, meaning security or assurance, used with the verb sûwm, H7760, "to put" or "to set") means to place one's complete reliance, confidence, and security in God alone. It's an active, intentional choice to lean on Him, not merely an intellectual acknowledgment. This involves surrendering self-sufficiency, recognizing God's sovereignty and faithfulness in all circumstances, and believing that He is capable and willing to provide, protect, and guide. It implies an absence of fear because one's hope is firmly anchored in His character and promises, as seen in Psalm 118:8. This trust is demonstrated through obedience, prayer, and patiently waiting on God, even when circumstances seem bleak or human solutions fail.
Who are "the proud" and why should they not be respected?
Answer: "The proud" (Hebrew: râhâb, H7295) refers to those who are insolent, arrogant, self-sufficient, boastful, or oppressive. They trust in their own strength, wisdom, or worldly status rather than in God. They often disregard God's law and may even scorn those who follow Him. The blessed person "respects not" (Hebrew: pânâh, H6437, meaning "turns not towards" or "pays no attention to") such individuals because their way of life is fundamentally opposed to God's ways. To admire or emulate the proud would be to compromise one's trust in God and embrace a worldview rooted in human autonomy rather than divine dependence. Scripture consistently warns against pride, stating that God opposes the proud and that it leads to destruction (Proverbs 16:18).
What does "turn aside to lies" refer to?
Answer: To "turn aside to lies" (Hebrew: sûwṭ, H7750, "to turn aside" or "become derelict," with kâzâb, H3577, "falsehood" or "lie") signifies a deviation or straying from the path of truth and integrity. "Lies" (kâzâb) can encompass various forms of falsehood: literal deception, false promises, empty ideologies, or, most significantly in a biblical context, idolatry. Idols are considered "lies" because they are false gods that offer no genuine salvation or help, leading people away from the one true God (Jeremiah 10:14). This phrase also includes any form of moral or spiritual compromise that involves embracing untruths or living deceitfully, thereby rejecting God's revealed truth. The blessed person maintains a steadfast commitment to God's truth, recognizing that only His truth brings genuine freedom and life (John 8:32).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 40:4 finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who uniquely embodies the blessed man described by the psalmist. Jesus perfectly "made the LORD his trust" in every aspect of His earthly life, demonstrating complete reliance on His Father, even to the point of obediently embracing death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). He never "respected the proud," consistently challenging the self-righteousness and hypocrisy of the religious leaders and exposing the emptiness of human arrogance and earthly power (Matthew 23:1-36). Furthermore, Jesus never "turned aside to lies"; He is the very embodiment of truth, declaring, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). His entire ministry was a revelation of God's truth, and He exposed the lies of the devil, who is the "father of lies" (John 8:44). As believers, we are called to follow Christ's perfect example, placing our trust in God through Him, rejecting the pride of self and the deceptions of the world. Indeed, it is through faith in Christ that we are made righteous and truly blessed, participating in His perfect trust and His victory over pride and falsehood, becoming children of God who walk in truth and grace, empowered by His Spirit (John 1:12 and Ephesians 4:20-24).