Reflections on Psalms 40

 Psalms 40(Contemporary English Version)

1. (A psalm by David for the music leader.) I patiently waited, LORD, for you to hear my prayer. You listened
   
2. and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm,
   
3. and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you. Many will see this, and they will honor and trust you, the LORD God.
   
4. You bless all of those who trust you, LORD, and refuse to worship idols or follow false gods.
   
5. You, LORD God, have done many wonderful things, and you have planned marvelous things for us. No one is like you! I would never be able to tell all you have done.
   
6. Sacrifices and offerings are not what please you; gifts and payment for sin are not what you demand. But you made me willing to listen and obey.
   
7. And so, I said, "I am here to do what is written about me in the book, where it says,
   
8. 'I enjoy pleasing you. Your Law is in my heart.' "
   
9. When your people worshiped, you know I told them, "Our LORD always helps!"
   
10. When all your people met, I did not keep silent. I said, "Our LORD is kind. He is faithful and caring, and he saves us."
    
11. You, LORD, never fail to have pity on me; your love and faithfulness always keep me secure.
    
12. I have more troubles than I can count. My sins are all around me, and I can't find my way. My sins outnumber the hairs on my head, and I feel weak.
    
13. Please show that you care and come to my rescue. Hurry and help me!
    
14. Disappoint and confuse all who want me dead; turn away and disgrace all who want to hurt me.
    
15. Embarrass and shame all of those who say, "Just look at you now!"
    
16. Our LORD, let your worshipers rejoice and be glad. They love you for saving them, so let them always say, "The LORD is wonderful!"
    
17. I am poor and needy, but, LORD God, you care about me, and you come to my rescue. Please hurry and help.

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One who has walked with the Lord for a while can identify with this psalm of David. He had experienced God's help in the past and needed His help in the present. Therefore, the form the psalm took began with praise for God's help in the past, followed by David's renewed commitment of himself to the Lord, and concluding with his plea for God's help in his present need.

David had learned the value of waiting for the Lord. He had done this in the past and the Lord, "turned to me and heard my cry for help." (40:1) He had brought David "from a desolate pit" and "set my feet on a rock," putting "a new song in my mouth." (40:2, 3) Because he knew from experience God's deliverance when he waited for Him, David proclaimed for anyone to hear, "How happy is the man who has put his trust in the LORD and has not turned to the proud or to those who run after lies!" (40:4) And to the Lord he proclaimed, "LORD my God, You have done many things--Your wonderful works and Your plans for us; none can compare with You. If I were to report and speak of them, they are more than can be told." (40:5)

In verses 6-10 David renewed his commitment of himself to the Lord, recognizing that it is not sacrifices and offerings in which the Lord delights the most, but in the offering of himself to the Lord. And so David said, "See, I have come . . . I delight to do Your will, my God; Your instruction resides within me." (40:7, 8)

In verse 11 David turned finally to his present need beginning with the words, "do not withhold Your compassion from me." Had David been in this need for a while and it seemed to him that the Lord might be withholding His compassion? Perhaps, though it might also be an expression of his urgency. But then we read in the next verse (40:12) "my sins have overtaken me" suggesting that he saw his present situation to be a result of his own sin. Guilt could also lead him to think God might withhold His compassion.

David's troubles are many, "more than the hairs of my head." And evidently took the form of enemies who "seek to take my life." (40:14) His request of the Lord, then, was for his enemies to "be driven back and humiliated." And, that "all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You." (40:16) In other words, may the Lord hear David's prayer and deliver him from his enemies so he is prompted to "rejoice and be glad" in the Lord.

David concluded with a combination statement of faith and further plea for God's help, "You are my help and my deliverer; my God, do not delay." He was not waiting for the Lord to deliver him to proclaim God as his help and deliverer. God had already been that to him in the past and he was confident He would be that to him in this present situation. He just hoped the Lord would not delay in His deliverance.