Psalms40
New King James Version
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”
9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know.
10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.
12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; Therefore my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who seek to destroy my life; Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor Who wish me evil.
15 Let them be confounded because of their shame, Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
16 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”
17 But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.
Study
Psalms 40Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 40. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Confidence for deliverance. (1–5). Christ's work of redemption. (6–10). Prayer for mercy and grace. (11–17).
vv1-5
Doubts and fears about the eternal state, are a horrible pit and miry clay, and have been so to many a dear child of God. There is power enough in God to help the weakest, and grace enough to help the unworthiest of all that trust in him. The psalmist waited patiently; he continued believing, hoping, and praying. This is applicable to Christ. His agony, in the garden and on the cross, was a horrible pit and miry clay. But those that wait patiently for God do not wait in vain. Those that have been under religious melancholy, and by the grace of God have been relieved, may apply verse 2 very feelingly to themselves; they are brought up out of a horrible pit. Christ is the Rock on which a poor soul can alone stand fast. Where God has given stedfast hope, he expects there should be a steady, regular walk and conduct. God filled the psalmist with joy, as well as peace in believing. Multitudes, by faith beholding the sufferings and glory of Christ, have learned to fear the justice and trust in the mercy of God through Him. Many are the benefits with which we are daily loaded, both by the providence and by the grace of God.
vv6-10
The psalmist foretells that work of wonder, redemption by our Lord Jesus Christ. The Substance must come, which is Christ, who must bring that glory to God, and that grace to man, which it was impossible the sacrifices should ever do. Observe the setting apart of our Lord Jesus to the work and office of Mediator. In the volume, or roll, of the book it was written of him. In the close rolls of the Divine decrees and counsel, the covenant of redemption was recorded. Also, in all the volumes of the Old Testament something was written of him, Joh 19:28. Now the purchase of our salvation is made, the proclamation is sent forth, calling us to come and accept it. It was preached freely and openly. Whoever undertook to preach the gospel of Christ, would be under great temptation to conceal it; but Christ, and those he calls to that work, are carried on in it. May we believe his testimony, trust his promise, and submit to his authority.
vv11-17
The best saints see themselves undone, unless continually preserved by the grace of God. But see the frightful view the psalmist had of sin. This made the discovery of a Redeemer so welcome. In all his reflections upon each step of his life, he discovered something amiss. The sight and sense of our sins in their own colours, must distract us, if we have not at the same time some sight of a Saviour. If Christ has triumphed over our spiritual enemies, then we, through him, shall be more than conquerors. This may encourage all that seek God and love his salvation, to rejoice in him, and to praise him. No griefs nor poverty can render those miserable who fear the Lord. Their God, and all that he has or does, is the ground of their joy. The prayer of faith can unlock his fulness, which is adapted to all their wants. The promises are sure, the moment of fulfilment hastens forward. He who once came in great humility, shall come again in glorious majesty.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
קָוָה: to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect
נָטָה: to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
שַׁוְעָה: a hallooing
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
בּוֹר: a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)
שָׁאוֹן: uproar (as of rushing); by implication, destruction
Cross References
Psalms 40Explicitly quotes Ps 40:6-8 to establish Christ's voluntary sacrifice replacing Levitical animal offerings.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ declares He came down from heaven to do the will of God, fulfilling verse 8.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Christ's offering up prayers with strong crying and tears in Gethsemane matches the patient waiting here.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Jeremiah's literal deliverance from a miry dungeon illustrates the figurative distress of the psalmist.
Supported by JFB
Refers to boring a servant's ear in token of voluntary, perpetual obedience and enslavement.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Samuel's famous declaration that to obey is better than sacrifice parallels the critique of empty offerings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus declares His meat is to do the will of Him that sent Him.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Parallels declaring God's name and righteousness in the midst of the great congregation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Christ confirms that all things written in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms concerning Him must be fulfilled.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Under the New Covenant, God promises to write His law in the believer's heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Psalm 70 is a near-identical repetition of the petition in verses 13-17.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Identical imagery of praying to be delivered from the mire and the deep waters.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The Servant's ear is opened by God, and He is not rebellious, showing obedience.
Supported by JFB
Christ points to the Scriptures, which testify directly of Him as written in the volume.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Using similar imagery of being drawn out of many waters and great dangers.
Supported by Matthew Poole