Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does Psalms Chapter 40 mean?

David experienced danger many times in his life, often as threats from men who marked him out, specifically, for death. In those moments, he prayed to God and was rescued. In some moments, the danger seemed so dire that David saw no way out—like a person trapped in a deep, slimy hole with no escape. Poetically, David describes God saving him from that fate, resulting both in praise and an example from which others can learn (Psalm 40:1–3).

Old Testament books such as Psalms and Proverbs often extol the value of godly wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 19:7–10). David echoes those themes here, warning against arrogance and lies. He also praises God for the many examples of mercy shown to His people, more than any one person could tell (Psalm 40:4–5).

Psalm 40:6–7 is cited in the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 10:5–9). In that text, the passage is used to explain how God’s ultimate plan for humanity involved the obedient use of a specially prepared body: that of Jesus Christ. Hebrews quotes the Septuagint Greek translation, resulting in slightly different phrasing than the Old Testament Hebrew. David notes that God’s primary desire is for obedience, and that the Lord had specifically created him with an ability to hear and obey. In response, David plans to honor God’s will as explained in the written Word of God (Psalm 40:6–8).

Many of the psalms were written by David—he was not at all afraid to share his praise for God (Psalm 40:9–10).

After celebrating what God had done, David then turns to what God will do. In part, that includes forgiving David of his sins. Despite all his success, David was not ignorant to his own need for mercy. This prayer also asks God to continue to save him from his enemies. The phrasing here asks that those who mockingly hate David will be devastated by their own shame. Maintaining the attitude of humility, David praises God in advance for His response and celebrates the joy which should come naturally to all believers (Psalm 40:11–17).

Chapter Context
In this psalm David offers praise to the Lord for meeting his needs. He may have composed this psalm during one of his exiles in the wilderness or during the infancy of his rule as Israel’s king. Verses 1–5 may refer to his exile, and verses 6–10 may depict his dedication as king. Verses 11–17 tell of his prayer for forgiveness and his exaltation over his foes. Psalm 70 parallels Psalm 40:13–17. Hebrews 10:5–9 quotes Psalm 40:6–8, making the latter passage messianic.

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. I waited patiently for the Lord;he inclined to me and heard my cry.

David recalls that he waited patiently for the Lord to answer his urgent prayer. The Hebrew construction here uses the same root word twice, with different tenses. This most literally means something like “waited, waited,” or “I waited to wait.” This technique indicates David’s perseverance in prayer for the Lord to answer.

The second phrase in this verse also includes a turn of phrase. The Hebrew root word natah implies something turning or bending. In a poetic image, God is “leaning forward” to hear David, the way a person might do for a child who speaks quietly. The Lord heard David’s urgent prayer.

Believers are admonished in the New Testament to keep praying without giving up. Jesus told His disciples a parable showing they should always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). The parable involved a widow who kept coming to a judge to ask for justice against her adversary (Luke 18:2–3). The judge was neither godly or caring, but he grew tired of the widow’s persistent asking for justice, so he granted her request (Luke 18:4–5). Jesus asked in verse 7, “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?” Certainly, God will answer the urgent prayers of His people, therefore we should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Context Summary
Psalm 40:1–10 delivers a steady stream of thanksgiving, as David recounts the Lord’s deliverance of him from his enemies. He is grateful for giving him a new lease on life. He commits himself to doing the Lord’s will and to telling others about how the Lord delivered him from his enemies. Psalm 37:1–7 emphasizes the fact that the Lord delivers those who wait on Him and commit themselves to His will. Hebrews 10:5–9 quotes the Greek version of Psalm 40:6–8 and applies the passage to Jesus the Messiah.

Verse 2. He drew me up from the pit of destruction,out of the miry bog,and set my feet upon a rock,making my steps secure.

Scripture does not record any literal events in David’s life such as being trapped in a pit. Rather, this is additional poetry describing how deeply desperate was David’s plight. David’s warlike life was full of near-death experiences, some of which seemed so hopeless that they were like being in a trash pit or slimy swamp. One can imagine being abandoned in a cavernous hole in the ground filling with water, mud, and slime. In such a predicament it is impossible to get a foothold, but the Lord reached down to David, answered his cry for help, and pulled him to safety. David says the Lord set his feet on a rock and made his steps secure. The imagery indicates that the Lord rescued David from his enemies and provided security for him.

The patriarch Joseph experienced the calamity of being thrown into a pit, in a very literal sense. His brothers despised him and tried to get rid of him by putting him into a pit. However, in God’s providence, Judah, one of the brothers, persuaded the others to draw him out of the pit and sell him to a caravan of Ishmaelites bound for Egypt. The brothers received twenty shekels of silver from the traders (Genesis 37:12–28).

Verse 3. He put a new song in my mouth,a song of praise to our God.Many will see and fear,and put their trust in the Lord.

David was so joyful and appreciative of God’s deliverance of him from his enemies that he lifted his voice in a song of praise to the Lord. He shared this praise with his countrymen so that they would reverence the Lord and trust in Him. This “reverence” is the meaning of the term “fear” in passages such as this.

When God delivers sinners from their sin, He draws them out of what seems like a pit (Psalm 40:2). Those who cry to the Lord for salvation and believe on Jesus as Savior are rescued. God gives them a brand–new life (Ephesians 2:4–10; 1 John 3:14). Second Corinthians 5:17 declares that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The Lord not only saves them from the pit of sin but also establishes their steps and gives them a new direction in life. Saul of Tarsus found forgiveness and a new life in Christ (Acts 9). He testified in 1 Timothy 1:15–16 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom he said he was the foremost. But he received mercy in order for Jesus Christ to display His perfect patience as an example to other believers.

Verse 4. Blessed is the man who makesthe Lord his trust,who does not turn to the proud,to those who go astray after a lie!

Many Scriptures declare that happiness is most likely when a person trusts and obeys God (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 37:5–9). Trials and hardships will come, even to those who honor God (John 16:33), but those who love the Lord are guaranteed eventual victory (Romans 8:28–30).

David had learned in the wilderness to rely on the Lord for safety, and he was not disappointed. His trust in God brought him great happiness. The person who puts their faith in the Lord doesn’t take advice from arrogant, worldly people. Nor does he imitate those who follow lies, false ideas, or foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:12; Romans 12:1–2; Proverbs 5:22–23).

When Satan tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, he lied to her. He told her she would not die for eating the forbidden fruit, although God had said clearly, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16–17). Those who spread lies against David were following the evil pattern established by Satan (John 8:44).

Verse 5. You have multiplied, O Lord my God,your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;none can compare with you!I will proclaim and tell of them,yet they are more than can be told.

David speaks not only on his own behalf but also on behalf of the people of Israel in this verse by declaring that the Lord had given them many, many signs of His power and love for them. Many of these events are seen in the dramatic events of the Exodus (Exodus 7:3; Deuteronomy 6:20–25; Jeremiah 32:21–23).

God worked in wondrous ways to preserve David when his enemies pursued him just as He protected and provided for the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. He had given them shoes that did not wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5). He had provided water from a rock for them (Exodus 17:6). He had kept them safe from warlike tribes (Exodus 17:13; Numbers 21:21–24). He had fed them with manna and quail (Exodus 16:9–16, 31).

The Lord’s thoughts toward David and the people of Israel included His plans for them. He was their provider and protector in the past and He would remain so in the future. David would proclaim the Lord’s wondrous deeds and thoughts, but he acknowledged that they were “more than can be told” (John 20:30–31; 21:25).

Verse 6. In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,but you have given me an open ear.Burnt offering and sin offeringyou have not required.

David ponders how he might show his gratitude for all the wondrous things God had done him (Psalm 40:1–5). Certainly, David knew that God accepted and even commanded certain physical sacrifices under the Old Testament law. However, David has enough wisdom to understand that God looks at the worshiper’s heart and not simply at his sacrifices and offerings.

King Saul had learned the hard way what David knew: The Lord delights in obedience and not in the ritual of offering sacrifices while the heart is not in tune with His will. Samuel reprimanded Saul for disobeying the Lord by not slaying Agag and all that pertained to Agag and by offering sacrifices after disobeying the Lord. He told Saul: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). David testifies that the Lord had given him an open ear; that is, David listened to hear what the Lord commanded him.

The phrasing used here is apparently a Hebrew idiom—a figure of speech—which in many literal translations implies “digging ears.” The meaning of the phrase is God forming the body such that a person has the privilege of hearing from God. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament, takes this approach, which is why Hebrews 10:5 speaks of God preparing a body. Whether in the poetic form of Hebrew or the literalized version of Greek, the point is the same: the Lord has “dug out,” or “opened,” or “created” the ears of David so he can hear from God.

Verse 7. Then I said, “Behold, I have come;in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

This statement implies that David is available to the Lord for the performance of His will. The Psalms often refer to God’s written Word as the source of wisdom and truth (Psalm 12:6; 40:8). The reference here to scrolls and book is the same: a mention of the written Scriptures. David was ready to do God’s will, and he perceived that God’s will was presented in these writings.

That comment also points us prophetically to Jesus, who fulfilled every Scripture that identified Him as God’s obedient servant. His life from conception to crucifixion and resurrection was prophesied in the Old Testament. He was the prophesied Messiah, who was obedient to God’s will in all things, including His sacrifice for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). In John 8:29 Jesus asserted, “And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

The book of Hebrews cites this verse as part of an explanation of Jesus’ role as Savior (Hebrews 10:5–7).

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

This is connected to the verses cited in Hebrews 10:5–7, which applied this passage to Jesus the Messiah. As do many New Testament citations, this uses the Septuagint translation, in Greek. Phrasings between that and the Old Testament Hebrew are often different. The Hebrews reference shows that God’s ultimate intent for our salvation involved a physical body, fulfilled in that of Jesus Christ (Psalm 40:6).

David was thrilled to do God’s will, whom he knew personally as “my God.” He also held God’s Word in his heart. His devotion to God’s will and God’s Word pictures Jesus’ relationship to God and His Word. When the Devil tempted Jesus for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness, Jesus refused to abandon His worship of the Father by falling down to worship the Devil. The Devil took Jesus to an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He promised to give Jesus all the kingdoms and their glory if Jesus would down and worship him (Matthew 4:8–9). But Jesus resolutely refused the offer. He rebuked the Devil and appealed to the biblical command: “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10). Jesus continued that pattern throughout His earthly ministry (John 4:34; 5:19; 17:4–6).

Verse 9. I have told the glad news of deliverancein the great congregation;behold, I have not restrained my lips,as you know, O Lord.

David addresses the Lord in this verse, claiming he has proclaimed God’s works to others. Those who are in the “great congregation” are presumably the faithful people of Israel. David held nothing back when he reported how the Lord rescued him from his enemies.

When Jesus drove out numerous demons from a man who had been driven by them and existed in a deranged state of mind, He told him to return home “and declare how much God has done for you” (Luke 8:39). Obediently, the liberated man went home and proclaimed throughout the entire city how much Jesus had done for him. Every Christian has a story to tell about how the Lord delivered him or her from sin and judgment. Every Christian is an ambassador for Christ, and through us God is appealing to others to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). The apostle Paul viewed himself as an ambassador for Christ. He testified, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Like Paul, we should love to tell the story!

Verse 10. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulnessfrom the great congregation.

As in the prior statement (Psalm 40:9), David affirms that he did not keep secret what the Lord had done for him. He told the great congregation—the worshipers in the sanctuary—about the Lord’s reliable rescue. Divine attributes such as trustworthiness and love are expressed by God towards all of His people.

Amidst lamenting what befell Jerusalem, Jeremiah consoled himself with the assurance that the Lord is faithful and loving at all times. He wrote: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22–23). The salvation David alludes to here is likely the deliverance the Lord gave him when David was hunted and attacked by his enemies in the wilderness.

Following David’s example, we too should not keep hidden the truth that the Lord is always reliable and loving. Nor should we keep it a secret that the Lord has saved us. He has delivered us from our sins and eternal judgment, and what He did for us He can do for others. But, as Romans 10:14 asks: “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? and how are they to hear without someone preaching [proclaiming]?”

Verse 11. As for you, O Lord, you will not restrainyour mercy from me;your steadfast love and your faithfulness willever preserve me!

To this point, David has expressed praise for what God has done, in the past. Now he expresses confidence in what God will do now and in the future. He trusts that the Lord will never show him less compassion than He has shown him in the past. Furthermore, David believes the Lord’s unfailing love and faithfulness will always keep him safe.

Believers today are also kept safe. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even when we suffer persecution and hardship, He is still with us (John 16:33). The apostle Paul testified: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). Our love of God may weaken, but God’s love of us will remain steady always. Also, His compassion and trustworthiness are unfailing. Lamentations 3:22–23 assures us that His mercies never end and His faithfulness is great. God always holds us safe in His mighty arms!

Context Summary
Psalm 40:11–17 follows a passage focused mainly on David’s thanksgiving for the Lord’s past blessings. This section features his requests to God, based on the Lord’s love and faithfulness. He asks the Lord to forgive his sins, rescue him from his enemies, and to fill God’s people with praise when they recognize how David has been delivered. Psalm 38 contains similar themes to those of these closing verses of Psalm 40.

Verse 12. For evils have encompassed mebeyond number;my iniquities have overtaken me,and I cannot see;they are more than the hairs of my head;my heart fails me.

The Bible describes David as a man after God’s heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), but that does not mean he was perfect or sinless. David held no such illusions, either. Here he admits he is a sinful person. Rather than blaming God for difficulties in his life, David accepts that many hardships—but not all (John 9:1–3; 1 Peter 3:17)—are brought on by our own sin. These errors have caught up to David and surrounded him.

In dramatic terms, David claims he is so distressed by his own mistakes that he cannot see clearly. If David would try to count his sins, he would not be able to do so because they are too many to count. He confesses that they are more than the hairs on his head. He feels as though his heart has left him.

We cannot count our sins, because they are innumerable. Not only are we guilty of sins of commission but we are also guilty of sins of omission. We do what we should not do, and we do not do what we should do. James 4:17 says, “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” David acknowledged his sins, and we should too. Confession is an essential step toward forgiveness.

Verse 13. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!O Lord, make haste to help me!

David cries out to God not only to save him, but to do so quickly. This has a dual meaning: David acknowledged his need for forgiveness of sins (Psalm 40:12), as well as the physical dangers he often faced (Psalm 3:1–2; 17:8–9). David was keenly aware of how much he needed the Lord. For all his success, he knew he could not overcome either sin or worldly enemies through his own strength.

Samson, a judge of Israel, should have humbly submitted to the fact that the Lord was the source of his strength. Yet, when the Philistines were ready to capture him, he depended on his past record of victories for victory. He was mistaken. He boasted: “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free” (Judges 16:20). However, Samson’s pride and sin had caused God to withdraw His protective power. Arrogance leads to defeat, whereas confidence in the Lord leads to victory. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” No wonder the apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to draw his strength from the grace that is in the Lord (2 Timothy 2:1).

Verse 14. Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogetherwho seek to snatch away my life;let those be turned back and brought to dishonorwho delight in my hurt!

Here, David asks God to defeat and confound those who were seeking to kill him. He wanted those who longed to dethrone him to be disgraced. If we compare the request in this verse with David’s words in verse 11, we see that David’s prayer for the defeat and disgrace of his enemies was offered with full confidence in the Lord (Psalm 40:11).

Though David was a man of military skill (Psalm 144:1), he didn’t seek revenge against his enemies (1 Samuel 24:1–10). In Romans 12, we are told explicitly not to take vengeance into our own hands. Verse 19 states, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19). Verses 20 and 21 exhort us to show kindness to our enemy and to overcome evil with good.

Instead of taking matters into our own hands, we are instructed to leave them in God’s hands. David committed his desperate situation to the Lord. That does not necessarily mean God will take our preferred actions, or steps of vengeance, but He will ultimately make all wrongs right (Revelation 20:11–15).

Verse 15. Let those be appalled because of their shamewho say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

The Hebrew word he’āh’ is transliterated as “aha!” in verses such as this. Just as in English, this is an exclamation used for emphasis. Those who are against David celebrate his troubles and failures. The term translated in the ESV as “appalled” most literally implies desolation (Ezekiel 6:6; Zephaniah 3:6). Used in this way, it implies the feeling of devastation: complete and shocking defeat. David is asking for his enemies to experience shame and anguish as punishment for their aggression.

In the end, those who sin against God reap the consequences of their actions (Psalm 7:12–16; 64:8; Romans 1:26–27). Those who scoff at Jesus, the Son of David, will suffer shame and hurt (John 3:36). Paul told the Athenians, “[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Unbelievers may ridicule Jesus now, but someday they will receive their sins’ wages. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” The “death” in this verse refers not only to physical death, but also to spiritual death and eternal death.

Verse 16. But may all who seek yourejoice and be glad in you;may those who love your salvationsay continually, “Great is the Lord!”

More than desiring the defeat and disgrace of his enemies, David wanted the Lord’s people to celebrate His love and give Him praise. Rather than focusing on worldliness, revenge, or self-pity, God’s truth leads people to joy (Psalm 33:1; 118:24). It has been said that religion which wears graveclothes should be buried. The Lord’s people should be the most joyful people on earth. The Lord has given us good reason to rejoice and be glad in Him. For those who accept Him (John 3:16–18), He has forgiven our sins, set us free from slavery to sin, promised to be with us always, and has assured us of a home in heaven (Romans 8:18).

An awareness of all that the Lord has done for us, is doing for us, and will yet do for us should cause us to proclaim, as David did, “Great is the Lord!” We should follow Mary’s example when she exclaimed during her visit with Elizabeth, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46–47).

Verse 17. As for me, I am poor and needy,but the Lord takes thought for me.You are my help and my deliverer;do not delay, O my God!

David ascribes to God all credit for helping him and delivering him in the past. He asks the Lord to come to his assistance quickly. While David was wildly successful, he was also humble enough to admit his need for God (Psalm 40:11–13). Rather than claim he deserves God’s favor (Luke 18:9–14), he describes the Lord as his help and deliverer. We do not know what specific situation David had in mind when he wrote this psalm. We do know he trusted the Lord to resolve it.

We are also reminded that David had a personal relationship with the Lord, because he addressed him as “my God.” The Lord certainly knows all about every challenging situation a believer faces; no situation is too hard for God to resolve. He will either end the situation (2 Corinthians 5:6–8) or grant His all-sufficient grace so the believer can bear it (Philippians 4:12–13). The apostle Paul asked the Lord three times to remove his thorn in the flesh, which was perhaps a severe physical ailment. But the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

End of Psalm 40

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