I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
I have preached {H1319}{H8765)} righteousness {H6664} in the great {H7227} congregation {H6951}: lo, I have not refrained {H3607}{H8799)} my lips {H8193}, O LORD {H3068}, thou knowest {H3045}{H8804)}.
I have proclaimed what is right in the great assembly; I did not restrain my lips, ADONAI, as you know.
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.
I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest.
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Psalms 22:25
My praise [shall be] of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. -
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. -
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. -
Psalms 22:22
¶ I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. -
Psalms 71:15
My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness [and] thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers [thereof]. -
Psalms 71:18
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come. -
Psalms 119:13
¶ With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psalms 40:9 captures the psalmist's commitment to publicly proclaiming God's truth and righteousness. This verse is a powerful declaration of bold witness and sincere devotion, appealing to God's omniscience as a testament to his faithfulness.
Context
Psalm 40 is often attributed to King David, reflecting a journey from deep distress and deliverance (verses 1-3) to a renewed commitment to God's will and service. Following a declaration of his delight in doing God's law (verse 8), the psalmist moves to the public expression of this devotion. This verse highlights the natural outflow of a heart transformed by God's grace – a desire to share that truth with others, particularly "in the great congregation," implying a public assembly or act of worship.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "I have preached righteousness" uses the Hebrew verb basar (בָּשַׂר), which often means "to bring good news" or "to evangelize." In this context, it refers to proclaiming God's righteous character, His just ways, and His saving acts. The term "righteousness" (tzedeq, צֶדֶק) encompasses God's moral rectitude, justice, and faithfulness to His covenant. Thus, the psalmist is not merely speaking about his own moral uprightness, but about the divine standards and saving acts of God Himself. His refusal to "refrain his lips" indicates a powerful, unhindered delivery of this vital message.
Practical Application
Psalms 40:9 challenges believers today to consider their own role in proclaiming God's truth. Like the psalmist, we are called to be bold witnesses for Christ, not refraining our lips from sharing the "good news" of His salvation. This can take many forms, from personal conversations to public ministries, but the core message remains the same: to make known God's righteousness and His saving love. Our sincerity in this endeavor, as the psalmist noted, is ultimately known and approved by God, who sees beyond outward actions to the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).