Old Testament

Psalms 40

From the Pit to Proclamation

7 passages

Overview

The psalmist moves from patient waiting on God through dramatic rescue and a new song of praise, to public proclamation of divine righteousness before the assembly, a declaration that God desires obedient self-offering over ritual sacrifice, an urgent plea for mercy amid surrounding evils and enemies, and a final resting in the confidence of the poor man who seeks God from acknowledged need.

Passages

1–3Deliverance from the Pit: God's Answer to Patient Waiting 4–5Beatitude and Wonder: Trusting in God's Innumerable Works 6–8Obedience Over Sacrifice: The Messianic Offering of the Self 9–10Faithful Proclamation: Witnessing God's Justice Before the Assembly 11–12A Cry for Mercy: Surrounded by Evils 13–15Cry from the Depths: Imprecatory Prayer and Trust in Divine Deliverance 16–17Final Hope: The Poor Man's Confidence in God

Study Resources

No study guides, devotionals, or teaching outlines have been created for this chapter yet.

Psalms 40

¹For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.

²He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

³He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.

⁴Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.

⁵Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted.

⁶Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.

⁷Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll.

⁸I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”

⁹I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.

¹⁰I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.

¹¹Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.

¹²For 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. My heart has failed me.

¹³Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, Yahweh.

¹⁴Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.

¹⁵Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!”

¹⁶Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let Yahweh be exalted!”

¹⁷But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.

Psalms 39 Psalms 41