seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Psalm 40:[a]For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
4 Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.(b)
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
but my ears you have opened[c]—
burnt offerings and sin offerings[d] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.[e]
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.
14 May all who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”
17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
you are my God, do not delay.
a. Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
b. Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
c. Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
d. Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
e. Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
This is from the easy English site.
If you read Psalms 37 – 39 you will find that David has been very sad. Now God has answered all his prayers. Psalm 40 is a song that says, ‘Thank you’ to God. But David still has problems. So the end of the psalm asks for more help. We can use the end of the psalm by itself.
Verse 2: It is not easy to get out of very wet (muddy) ground.
Verse 5: We do not know what God has planned for each of us.
Verse 6: A master would make a hole in his slave’s ear and fasten it to the door, if the slave wanted to stay with his master.
Verse 7: In the New Testament Jesus said that this was about him. This is in Hebrews 10: 7.
Verses 12 – 17: Here the psalm changes. It is not a song of praise and thanks any more. David has more problems, so he asks God for more help. In verse 15 "Aha, aha" is just a noise that is not kind!
Things have definitely changed since David wrote this poem.- Today the Israelites do not throw an ox or a lamb on an altar for sacrifice.
- Today "good Christians" don't have a food pantry for the poor, widows, and orphans.
- Today a "good Christian" is more concerned about who is sitting next to them in the pew than the are about the message of the cross.
IMHO.... this is a song of thanks....
