Psalm 40

October 24, 2015

Yahweh is my help (Ps 70:4-70:5)

“Let all who seek you

Rejoice and be glad in you!

Let those who love your salvation

Say evermore.

‘God is great!’

But I am poor.

I am needy.

Hasten to me!

O God!

You are my help!

You are my deliverer!

Yahweh!

Do not delay!”

Again almost word for word from parts of Psalm 40, this psalm ends with a plea for Yahweh to not delay. Yahweh was the answer for those who sought a life with rejoicing and gladness. Yahweh has a steadfast love for his followers since they continually say, “Great is Yahweh.” This is somewhat like the Islamic “Allah is great.” As for David, he admits that that he is poor and needy. However, he puts his trust in Yahweh, who will help deliver him from various problems. All he asks is that there be no delay.

October 24, 2015

Shame my enemies (Ps 70:1-70:3)

To the choirmaster leader, a psalm of David, for the memorial offering

“Be pleased!

O God!

To deliver me!

Yahweh!

Make haste to help me!

Anyone who seeks my life,

Let those be put to shame!

Anyone who seeks my life,

Let those be put to confusion!

Anyone who desires to hurt me,

Let those be turned back!

Anyone who desires to hurt me,

Let those be brought to dishonor!

Let those who say.

‘Aha, Aha!’

Turn back

Because of their shame.”

This short Psalm 70 is almost identical word for word to parts of Psalm 40. This a choral psalm of David that is associated with a sacrifice offering. David wanted Yahweh to deliver him or rescue him. He wanted it done quickly. This psalmist or David wanted his enemies put to shame and confusion. His enemies were those who were trying to kill and hurt him. He wanted them turned back and put to shame. These were the people who were taunting him. He wanted them shamed, pure and simple.

 

September 24, 2015

Yahweh is the answer (Ps 40:16-40:17)

“May all who seek you

Rejoice and be glad in you.

May those who love your salvation

Say continually.

‘Great is Yahweh!’

As for me,

I am poor and needy.

But Yahweh takes thought for me.

You are my help!

You are my deliverer!

Do not delay!

O my God!”

This psalm ends with the popular phrase “O my God” that appears so often as the surprise text expression, OMG. Yahweh is the answer for those who sought a life with rejoicing and gladness. Yahweh has a steadfast love for his followers since they continually say, “Yahweh is great.” This is somewhat like the Islamic “Allah is great.” As for the psalmist, he admits that that he is poor and needy. However, he puts his trust in Yahweh, who will help deliver him from various problems. All he asks is that there is no delay.

September 24, 2015

Shame my enemies (Ps 40:14-40:15)

“Let all those be put to shame,

Let all those be put to confusion,

Those who seek to snatch away my life!

Let those be turned back,

Let those be brought to dishonor,

Those who desire my hurt!

Let those be appalled,

Because of their sham,

Who say to me,

‘Aha, Aha!’”

The psalmist wanted his enemies put to shame and confusion. His enemies were those who were trying to kill and hurt him. He wanted the people taunting him to be turned back and put to shame. He wanted them shamed, pure and simple.

September 23, 2015

Asking for mercy (Ps 40:11-40:13)

“Yahweh!

Do no withhold your mercy from me!

Let your steadfast love,

Let your faithfulness,

Keep me safe forever!

Evils have encompassed me

Without number.

My iniquities have overtaken me,

Until I cannot see.

They are more than the hairs of my head.

My heart fails me.

Be pleased!

Yahweh!

Rescue me!

Yahweh!

Make haste to help me!”

David is asking for Yahweh’s mercy. He wanted Yahweh’s steadfast love and faithfulness to keep him safe forever. The problem was that innumerable evils had surrounded him. His iniquities had overtaken him so that he could not see anymore. There were more problems than hairs on his head. His heart was failing him. He wanted to be rescued as soon as possible.

September 23, 2015

David has proclaimed the good news of deliverance (Ps 40:9-40:10)

“I have told the glad news of deliverance

In the great congregation.

See!

I have not restrained my lips.

As you know!

Yahweh!

I have not hidden

Your saving help within my heart.

I have spoken of your faithfulness.

I have spoken of your salvation.

I have not concealed your steadfast love,

I have not concealed your faithfulness,

From the great congregation.”

David has proclaimed the good news of salvation to the great Jewish congregation where later they would gather in the Temple. He has not kept quiet. He has not hidden his love for Yahweh. He has spoken about his saving help, the faithfulness, and steadfast love of Yahweh. He has not concealed the faithfulness of Yahweh toward him and his faithfulness towards Yahweh. He has done all this publicly in the great assemblies.

September 23, 2015

The law in your heart (Ps 40:6-40:8)

“Sacrifice and offering,

You do not desire.

But you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering,

You hast not required.

Then I said.

‘Here I am,

In the scroll of the book

It is written of me.

I delight to do your will!

O my God!

Your law is within my heart.’”

This psalm is in contradiction to what most of the other sayings pointed out that it was necessary to offer sacrifices and sin offerings. David often did it. This time David has the open ear of Yahweh. He said that he was available with the famous, “Here I am.” His name was written in the scroll of the book that said that he delighted in doing the will of God. In fact, the law was written in his heart.

September 23, 2015

Trust in Yahweh (Ps 40:4-40:5)

“Happy are those

Who make Yahweh their trust!

Happy are those

Who do not turn to the proud!

Happy are those

Who do not go astray after false gods!

Yahweh!

My God,

You have multiplied

Your wondrous deeds.

You have multiplied

Your thoughts toward us.

None can compare with you!

Were I to proclaim,

Were I to tell of them,

They would be more than can be counted.”

The happy or blessed people trust in Yahweh. They are not proud. They do not go after false gods. Yahweh has multiplied them with his wondrous deeds. What he has done cannot be compared to anyone else. It would be impossible to count all of the things that Yahweh has done for his happy and blessed people who have faith in him.

September 23, 2015

A thanksgiving psalm (Ps 40:1-40:3)

To the choirmaster leader, a psalm of David

“I waited patiently for Yahweh.

He inclined to me.

He heard my cry.

He drew me up from the desolate pit.

He drew me out of the miry bog.

He set my feet upon a rock.

He makes my steps secure.

He put a new song in my mouth,

A song of praise to our God.

Many will see Yahweh.

Many will fear Yahweh.

Many will put their trust in Yahweh.”

Psalm 40 has a simple title of David with the notation to the choirmaster leader. David had waited patiently for Yahweh. However, Yahweh heard his call and leaned down to him. He took him out of the desolate pit and the slimy bog. He put his feet on solid rock and make his steps secure. With that there was a new song of praise for God that came out of his mouth. Thus many people have seen, feared, and trusted in Yahweh.