Christianity
Psalms 40I Waited Patiently
Summary
Psalm 40 begins with thanksgiving: the psalmist waited patiently for the LORD, who lifted him from a horrible pit and set his feet on a rock, putting a new song in his mouth. He declares that God desires obedience more than sacrifice, saying I delight to do thy will. The second half turns to fresh trouble and a plea for help; verses 13 to 17 reappear as Psalm 70. It is ascribed to David.
Key verse
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”
Psalms 40:1
Themes
- Patient Waiting
- Deliverance
- Obedience over Sacrifice
- A New Song
Text
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
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.
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.
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
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.
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
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.
Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
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.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
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 desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
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.
Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.
Across traditions
Christianity
Hebrews 10: Lo, I Come to Do Thy WillHebrews 10:5 to 7 quotes Psalm 40:6 to 8 from the Greek, which reads a body hast thou prepared me, and applies it to Christ's self offering.
Christianity
Psalm 70: Make Haste to Help MePsalm 70 repeats Psalm 40:13 to 17 almost exactly as a separate psalm.
Questions about Psalms 40
What does Psalm 40 say about sacrifice?
Verses 6 to 8 say God did not desire sacrifice and offering but opened the psalmist's ears, preferring a heart that delights to do his will. Similar ideas appear in 1 Samuel 15:22 and Psalm 51.
What is the horrible pit in Psalm 40?
It is a vivid picture of distress, likely drawn from an empty cistern full of mud. It may describe illness, danger or despair.