Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 40

Introduction

1  The benefit of confidence in God.
6  Obedience is the best sacrifice.
11  The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer.
Verse 1

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
A. M. 2970. B.C. 1034. (Title.) This psalm is supposed to have been composed by David about the same time, and on the same occasion, as the two preceding; with this difference, that here he magnifies God for have obtained the mercy which he sought there. It also contains a remarkable prophecy of the incarnation and sacrifice of Jesus Christ
I waited
Heb. In waiting I waited.
27:13,14, 37:7, James 5:7-11
inclined
116:2, 130:2, Daniel 9:18
Verse 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.
brought
18:16,17, 71:20, 86:13, 116:3, 142:6,7, 143:3, Isaiah 24:22, Jonah 2:5,6, Zechariah 9:11, Acts 2:24,27-31
horrible pit
Heb. pit of noise.
Matthew 13:50
the miry
69:2,14,15, Jeremiah 38:6-12, Lamentations 3:53-55
set
27:5, 61:2, Matthew 7:24,25
established
17:5, 18:36, 37:23, 119:133
Verse 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.
And he
33:3, 144:9, Revelation 5:9,10, 14:3
praise
103:1-5, Isaiah 12:1-4
many
34:1-6, 35:27, 52:6, 64:9,10, 142:7, Hosea 3:5, Acts 2:31-41, 4:4
Verse 4

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Blessed
2:12, 34:8, 84:11,12, 118:8,9, Jeremiah 17:7,8, Romans 15:12,13
respecteth
15:4, 101:3-7, 119:21
as turn
125:5, Isaiah 44:18-20, Jeremiah 10:14,15, Jonah 2:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11
Verse 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.
Many
136:4, Exodus 11:8, 15:11, Job 5:9, 9:10, 26:14
thoughts
71:15, 92:5, 139:6,17,18, Isaiah 55:8,9, Jeremiah 29:11
they cannot, etc
or, none can order them unto thee.
Job 37:19,20
Verse 6

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Sacrifice
50:8, 51:16, 1 Samuel 15:22, Isaiah 1:11, 66:3, Jeremiah 7:21-23, Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13, Matthew 12:7, Hebrews 10:5-12
mine ears
Exodus 21:6, Job 33:16, Isaiah 50:4,5
opened
Heb. digged.
Verse 7

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Lo
Hebrews 10:7-9
in the
Genesis 3:15, Luke 24:27,44, John 5:39, Acts 10:43, 1 Corinthians 15:3,4, 1 Peter 1:10,11, Revelation 19:10
Verse 8

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
I delight
112:1, 119:16,24,47,92, Job 23:12, Jeremiah 15:16, John 4:34, Romans 7:22, Romans 8:29
yea
37:30,31, Proverbs 3:1, Jeremiah 31:33, 2 Corinthians 3:3
within my heart
Heb. in the midst of my bowels.
Verse 9

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
preached
22:22,25, 35:18, 71:15-18, Mark 16:15,16, Luke 4:16-22, Hebrews 2:12
not
119:13,171,172
thou knowest
139:2, John 21:17
Verse 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.
not hid
Ezekiel 2:7, 3:17,18, Acts 20:20,21,26,27, Romans 10:9,10, 1 Thessalonians 1:8, Revelation 22:17
righteousness
Romans 1:16,17, 3:22-26, 10:3, Philippians 3:9
faithfulness
Acts 13:32,33, Romans 15:8,9
salvation
Isaiah 49:6, Luke 2:30-32, 3:6, 1 Timothy 1:15
lovingkindness
25:10, 34:6, Micah 7:20, John 1:17, 3:16,17
Verse 11

Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Withhold
From this verse to the end, we have quite a new subject; for the former contains a thanksgiving, and this contains a supplication. It is nearly the same as the seventieth, and probably formed a distinct Psalm.
69:13,16
let thy
23:6, 43:3, 57:3, 61:7, 85:10, Hebrews 5:7
Verse 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.
innumerable
22:11-19, Hebrews 4:15
mine
38:4, Isaiah 53:6, Luke 18:13,14, 1 Peter 3:18
they are
19:12, 69:4
heart
73:26, Genesis 42:28, Luke 21:26
faileth
Heb. forsaketh.
Verse 13

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
Be
25:17,18, Matthew 26:36-44
make
38:22, 70:1-5
Verse 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.
Let them be ashamed
The verbs in the preceding verse, in which the psalmist simply prays for deliverance, are in the imperative; but here, and in the following verses, they are in the future tense, and naturally express the language of lively faith and hope, rather than that of wishing the destruction foreseen and predicted.
31:17,18, 35:4,26, 70:2,3, 71:13, Isaiah 41:11, 45:24
that
Matthew 21:38-41
driven
9:3, John 18:6, Acts 9:4-6, 12:23,24
Verse 15

Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
desolate
69:24,25, 70:3, 73:19, 109:6-20, Luke 19:43,44, 21:23,24
say
35:21,25, 70:3,4
Verse 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.
all
22:26, 35:27, 68:3, 105:3, Isaiah 65:13,14
love
119:81,111,123,166,167, Matthew 13:45,46, Philippians 3:7-9
say
35:27, Luke 1:46,47, Acts 19:17
Verse 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.
I am poor
5, 34:6, 69:33, 70:5, Isaiah 41:17, Matthew 8:20, 2 Corinthians 8:9, James 2:5
the Lord
1 Peter 2:23, 5:7
help
54:4, Isaiah 50:7-9, Hebrews 13:6
make
143:7,8, Revelation 22:20

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