BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 40

Psalms book home•Chapter 40 of 150•17 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Psalms 40 Overview

David recalls being lifted from a horrible pit, delights to do God's will, proclaims God's righteousness, then returns to urgent petition against present trouble.

PsalmsBook

40Chapter

17Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Psalms 40

Coming from

Psalm 39 centered on learning the brevity of life before god. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

David recalls being lifted from a horrible pit, delights to do God's will, proclaims God's righteousness, then returns to urgent petition against present trouble.

Leads into

Psalm 41 turns to care for the weak, sickness, and betrayal by a close companion, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 40 belongs to Book I of the Psalter (Psalms 1–41). Hebrews 10 applies Psalm 40:6-8 to Christ's willing obedience and once-for-all offering, using the Greek-form wording of the psalm.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Deliverance leads to willing obedience and renewed prayer.

Thanksgiving truth

In Psalm 40, remembered deliverance should become explicit thanksgiving rather than private relief only.

Messianic truth

In Psalm 40, later Scripture shows that the royal or suffering language here reaches its fullest significance in Jesus Christ.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews applies Psalm 40:6-8 to Christ’s willing obedience and once-for-all offering.

Thanksgiving connection

1 Thessalonians 5:18 calls believers to give thanks in every circumstance. This connection helps frame Psalm 40.

Messianic connection

Luke 24:44 says the Psalms, along with the Law and Prophets, speak concerning Christ. This connection helps frame Psalm 40.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep thanksgiving in context

Do not make the deliverance in Psalm 40 a guaranteed timetable for every believer’s present crisis.

Keep messianic in context

Give explicit New Testament interpretation priority in Psalm 40; do not manufacture additional prophetic details beyond what Scripture establishes.

Read Psalms 40 watching for…

horrible pit.

new song.

sacrifice and ears/body.

delight thy will.

make haste.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-5David waits for the LORD, is lifted from the pit, and receives a new song 6-10David delights to do God’s will and declares his righteousness and faithfulness 11-17David asks for mercy, deliverance from sin and enemies, and help for the needy

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.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.

STUDY THIS VERSE

Psalms 40:8

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