6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened:
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear.
6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you - that's not what you're after. Being religious, acting pious - that's not what you're asking for. You've opened my ears so I can listen.
6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand - you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.
8 I don't find fault with your acts of worship, the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer.
8 I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me.
8 I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.
(Read Psalm 50:7-15)
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to love God and our neighbour better than all burnt-offerings. We are here warned not to rest in these performances. And let us beware of resting in any form. God demands the heart, and how can human inventions please him, when repentance, faith, and holiness are neglected? In the day of distress we must apply to the Lord by fervent prayer. Our troubles, though we see them coming from God's hand, must drive us to him, not drive us from him. We must acknowledge him in all our ways, depend upon his wisdom, power, and goodness, and refer ourselves wholly to him, and so give him glory. Thus must we keep up communion with God; meeting him with prayers under trials, and with praises in deliverances. A believing supplicant shall not only be graciously answered as to his petition, and so have cause for praising God, but shall also have grace to praise him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 40:6
Commentary on Psalm 40:6-10
(Read Psalm 40:6-10)
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, John 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.