40:1 «To
the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» I waited a
patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
(a) Though God deferred his help, yet he
patiently abode till he was heard.
40:2 He brought me up also out of an b
horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and]
established my goings.
(b) He has delivered me from great dangers.
40:3 And he hath put c
a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and
fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
(c) That is, a special opportunity to praise him,
for God's benefits are so many opportunities for us to praise his Name.
40:4 Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his
trust, and respecteth d not the proud,
nor such as turn aside to lies.
(d) To follow their example, which he must do who
trusts not only in the Lord.
40:5 Many, e
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.
(e) David goes from one king of God's favour to
the contemplation of his providence over all, and confesses that his counsels
toward us are far above our capacities, we cannot so much as tell them in
order.
40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; f
mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not
required.
(f) You have opened my ears to understand the
spiritual meaning of the sacrifices: and here David esteems the ceremonies of
the law as nothing in respect to the spiritual service.
40:7g Then
said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,
(g) When you had opened my ears and heart, I was
ready to obey you, being assured that I was written in the book of your elect
for this end.
40:9 I have preached
righteousness in the h great
congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
(h) In the Church assembled in the sanctuary.
40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my
heart; I have declared thy i
faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy
truth from the great congregation.
(i) David here numbers three degrees of our
salvation: God's mercy, by which he pities us, his righteousness which
signifies his continual protection and his truth, by which appears his
constant favour, so that from this our salvation proceeds.
40:12 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 k faileth me.
(k) Concerning the judgment of the flesh, I was
utterly destitute of all counsel, yet faith inwardly moved my heart to pray.
40:14 Let them be l
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.
(l) He desires that God's mercy may contend for
him against the rage of his enemies.
40:15 Let them be m
desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
(m) Let the same shame and confusion come on
them, which they intended to have brought on me.
40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be
glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, n
The LORD be magnified.
(n) As the faithful always praise God for his
benefits, so the wicked mocked God's children in their afflictions.
Psalm 40 Bible Commentary
The Geneva Study Bible
(a) Though God deferred his help, yet he patiently abode till he was heard.
40:2 He brought me up also out of an b horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.
(b) He has delivered me from great dangers.
40:3 And he hath put c a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
(c) That is, a special opportunity to praise him, for God's benefits are so many opportunities for us to praise his Name.
40:4 Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth d not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
(d) To follow their example, which he must do who trusts not only in the Lord.
40:5 Many, e 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.
(e) David goes from one king of God's favour to the contemplation of his providence over all, and confesses that his counsels toward us are far above our capacities, we cannot so much as tell them in order.
40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; f mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
(f) You have opened my ears to understand the spiritual meaning of the sacrifices: and here David esteems the ceremonies of the law as nothing in respect to the spiritual service.
40:7 g Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,
(g) When you had opened my ears and heart, I was ready to obey you, being assured that I was written in the book of your elect for this end.
40:9 I have preached righteousness in the h great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
(h) In the Church assembled in the sanctuary.
40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy i faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
(i) David here numbers three degrees of our salvation: God's mercy, by which he pities us, his righteousness which signifies his continual protection and his truth, by which appears his constant favour, so that from this our salvation proceeds.
40:12 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 k faileth me.
(k) Concerning the judgment of the flesh, I was utterly destitute of all counsel, yet faith inwardly moved my heart to pray.
40:14 Let them be l 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.
(l) He desires that God's mercy may contend for him against the rage of his enemies.
40:15 Let them be m desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
(m) Let the same shame and confusion come on them, which they intended to have brought on me.
40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, n The LORD be magnified.
(n) As the faithful always praise God for his benefits, so the wicked mocked God's children in their afflictions.