That is, his undertaking to save men by his own obedience unto death. The time referred to here, I apprehend, is that when the full effects of his having assumed the sins of the world to make expiation for them came upon him. It falls into two sections. In the first half (40:1-10), David tells how God got him out of one pit and he sings Gods praise for doing so. But he did not then live happily ever after. Rather, it is evident from the second half of the psalm (40:11-17) that he is in another pit, crying out to the Lord to deliver him from this one. David declares that he is able to put his trust in the Lord because of the great works that God has done in the past. Human like cognitive Psalm 40:14 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.. He will whisper, God isnt meeting your needs. Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.. But many years later, after a long reign that God had blessed, when the king of Israel came up against him, Asa sent tribute to the king of Syria and enlisted his help against the enemy. Revelation 21 Seems To Be After The Millennium Where It Says There Will Be No Pain Or Tears. Love When youre in the pit, wait intently on the Lord and proclaim His goodness when He answers. 5:17) in His believers have a new direction and joy. Though one deliverance is just effected (verse 2), it is not enough; something more is required. What happened to the soldiers, when Jesus answered them (I am He)? Psalm 40: The poles of thanksgiving and lament are so distinct in this psalm that some divide it into two separate psalms. Therefore, either David was prophesying and not speaking of himself in psalm 40, or the writer of Hebrews by inspiration applies Davids words to Christ also. We are to magnify the Lord and His great salvation to a world that shrugs Him off, while they waste their lives watching inane TV shows or pursuing riches that will perish at their deaths. It is a pleasure, not a chore, to do the will of the Lord. Verses 5-7 are the quotation from psalm 40: Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. To be assured in our own minds that one so great as God is, the infinite and eternal One, will never cease to think on us and may well sustain us in all the trials of life. Jesus told the disciples to expect trials. The devil will tempt us to give up trusting in the Lord and to seek fulfillment in other ways. It is an active crying out to the Lord, trusting Him to answer because of His love and compassion. Yet the Lord thinketh upon me: The Lord cares for me; he has not forgotten me. The sacrifices meant nothing if they did not connect man to God, so David praised God for the real reason behind the sacrifices. Do Those Who Commit Suicide Go To Hell? When sacrifice and offering God would not have any longer continued, and when a body was prepared him, then he said. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Our psalm gives us at least seven clues: The Hebrew of verse 1 is an intensified form of the verb, literally, Waiting, I waited. The New English Bible translates it, I waited, waited for the Lord. Its not a passive, ho-hum kind of waiting, like you do at the doctors office when you thumb through a bunch of magazines to pass the time. Praise God! These images have successfully created a strong effect in our minds. Many shall see it, and fear: (compare Deut. Ember Days He never could have rescued himself. In verse 5, he extols God for His many wonders and His thoughts towards us. Psalm 40 is a psalm of David that continues the same line of thinking as psalms 38 and 39. As always, he had enemies who wanted him dead so they could rule. You justify it by thinking, Well, its just this once and I do need to get out of this pit. But youre trusting in your lie, not in the Lord. Precedent from a Past Situation (40:1-10). In verses 9 and 10, he again affirms, I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; behold, I will not restrain my lips, O Lord, You know. As the language of the Messiah, it was in every way an appropriate prayer that the purposes of those who would defeat his design in coming into the world might be foiled. The synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa. And heard my cry: The cry or supplication which I made for help. But, a prophet rebuked Asa for relying on the king of Syria instead of relying on the Lord (2 Chron. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.. The offerings and sacrifices in the temple and in the tabernacle, were but a shadow of the one true Sacrifice: Jesus Christ our Lord. You may not feel like youre in that pit. We want to do better and we have great intentions to improve our lives, but it just is not working out how we would like. As used here, it refers to their purposes, and the wish or prayer is that they might be wholly unsuccessful. Everything good that has ever happened in my life is because of His blessing me. Whether this psalm is connected to any of the previous psalms where David asked for Gods deliverance is unknown, but it does say that God did deliver him at one time, and David was sure to express his gratitude in the best method he knew: a song of praise. Ive been thinking about some of the Psalms that use imagery from nature to describe Gods power. The nations sought to storm the city but Yahweh scattered them in His wrath. Rather, it is evident from the second half of the psalm (40:11-17) that he is in another pit, crying out to the Lord to deliver him from this one. 49:8). He is the focal point of the whole Bible. They chart a profound and vital relationship with God, with all the ups and downs that this relationship implies. And seeing the coming of Christ into the world was not only appointed of God, agreed unto by Christ, but was prophesied of, and penned down in the sacred writings. 10:9-10). 3:3-4; 2 Tim. We have been on His mind from the beginning. Which are no other than lies. King Asa was a classic example of a good man who fell into this trap. 26:18). Verse 10 says that it is by the second will that we have been sanctified. ' We must always see that our lives are continually in a slimy, muddy pit. Keeping this in mind can certainly help us get through the times when we are in the slimy pit. September 2022 For pardon, righteousness, communion, larger measures of grace, and for honor, glory, immortality, and eternal life. December 2021 On the personal level, David had seen God deliver him from the bear and the lion, not to mention from Goliath and from Sauls repeated attempts to kill him. Crucial associations surface throughout this psalm. And this not by change of place, but by assumption of nature. , . (Verse 3 above), leaves no doubt what this song is about. He is the Rock of my salvation. As we examine this psalm, we will notice a layout that some may consider backward. We are a nondenominational congregation of Christians located in West Palm Beach aiming to be faithful in every way to Jesus Christ. If you have known the Lord for any length of time, you can think back to many times when you were brought low and the Lord delivered you. I believe singing is a vital part of church services. He placed the earth at the proper distance from the sun, so that we do not burn up or freeze. The thanksgiving is offered (in verses 1-8). Applied to Jesus, that obedience was unto the cross (see Isa. As you know, the author of Hebrews applies these verses to Jesus (Heb. What He has promised, He will do. They will do and say things for their own benefit. Im doomed! you will either panic or turn to the world for help. It falls into two sections. We have another Psalm in our readings Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.. Our faith in God is justified. June 2022 For example, Psalm 37:7: Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Again, Psalm 37:9: For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. And again, Psalm 37:34: Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. But, what does it mean to wait on the Lord? He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord. All he did was cry out to God and wait expectedly for God to deliver him. Of David. It would be of little advantage to us who should think on us, if he did not. Seek, and ye shall find., Psalm 40:12 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.. The worst part of all was the fact that the Father turned away from Him when He had the sin of the world on His body. The angels in heaven rejoice when _____ __________ comes to Christ. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false (Psalm 24:4). He is WebImagery is a literary element that provides vivid, detailed descriptions and communicates a specific perception of an object or scene to a reader. But the sacrifice of Jesus Christ removes our sins and our guilt away from us. That is simply, I am not able to see; and it refers to the dimness or failure of sight caused by distress, weakness, or old age (1 Sam. Why should we have praise, and worship music, and song before preaching? God can get us through the pits of life today as well as he could in the past. Web1 a : pictures produced by an imaging system b : the product of image makers : images also : the art of making images 2 : figurative language 3 : mental images especially : the products of imagination Example Sentences The book contains a great deal of sexual imagery. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work . Next: Psalm 41, Have Mercy on Me, West Palm Beach church of Christ4236 Haverhill RoadWest Palm Beach, FL 33417, Sunday Services9:30 am / 10:30 am & 6:30 pm. O Lord, make haste to help me: Literally, Lord, make haste to my help (compare Psalms 22:19; 31:2; 38:22). He will not lie. This idea of innocence leads naturally into the lament and petition section of the psalm (verses 11-17). But understood as a wish or prayer, it could not be improper. That is, that they would not be successful, or would be foiled in their purposes. Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation., Psalm 40:5 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.. What does it mean to delight yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4)? I heard recently that a meteorite came uncomfortably close to earth. 17:7). David cries for the Lord to make haste to help him. What did some say when the earth began to shake and the light turned dark in the middle of the day at the crucifixion? 1. Verse 12 shows the connection: For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. We have all failed. And thy thoughts which are to us-ward: Gods thoughtfulness for man, his consideration and providential care, deserve praise and thanks equally with his wondrous acts. He waters the earth, providing crops for our food. Do ungodly methods sometimes work? Fellowship 4236 Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach Florida, 33417, 2015 Lectures (Following The Followers of Jesus), 2011 Lectures (Refreshed: Revive Your Faith), 2009 Lectures (Building Character from Bible Characters), 2008 Lectures (A Closer Look at Romans 12), 2006 Lectures (Building Proven Character). He brought them out of Egypt in the Exodus. How can I express it? Of their shame. Of their shameful act or purpose; their act as deserving of disgrace. If you have not yet cried out to God to save you from judgment and eternal punishment for your sins, then you are in a deep pit with no human way out. 23:23). Rejoice and be glad in thee: As their covenant God, the Father of their mercies, the God of all comfort and salvation. David also was probably thinking about Gods many wonderful acts of delivering His people from trouble. That is, in this case, the desolation prayed for would be a proper recompence for their purpose, or for what they said. Or rather in the book of the law, the five books of Moses, since these were the only books or volumes that were composed at the writing of this psalm. More literally, I am afflicted and poor. The language would describe the condition of one who was afflicted and was at the same time poor. We should all know by now that, we cannot trust the world or the people in it. Without a telescope, people either ignore the stars or maybe look up and think, Twinkle, twinkle little star. Little star? This is speaking of Jesus. Great things can happen in our lives when we put our trust in the Lord. October 2022 14:2-12). 3:12), many that profess to know Christ stumble and fall away when they get hit with various trials. His sacrifice fulfilled and did away with any further need for sacrifice. We see in this, the beautiful assurance that the Lords lovingkindness and truth are not withheld from us, when we seek them. For a reward: The word used here eqeb means the end, the last of anything. Pray Imagery engages the readers senses to draw them more deeply into the writing. Compare the psalmists pleasant frustration (in Psalm 139:12-18). Which he agreed to, had it in his mind, his heart was set upon it, and he cheerfully complied with it (John 10:18). Rescue Christ is concerned for the joy of his people (John 15:11). As applied to the Redeemer, this would refer to the fact that in his sorrows, in the deep sorrows connected with the work of redemption, he persevered in calling on God, and that God heard him, and raised him up to glory and joy (see Matt. Probably it was a Psalm that they sang together. 22:20). We must see that we cannot remove the stain of sins that is on us. 40:6-8 predicts). As they seek earnestly and diligently, in Christ, and under the influences of his Spirit. 26:36-46 and compare the notes at Heb. What does the statement (mine ears hast thou opened) mean? I suppose that this is designed to represent his afflicted and humble condition as a man of poverty and sorrow. Nor such as turn aside to lies: To idols, the lying vanities of the Gentiles. Why does David repeat himself so determinedly? Previous: Psalm 39, The Brevity of Life But that is not the point. Our psalm gives us at least seven clues: (1). Waiting on the Lord is intently active, not passive (40:1). The Heb r ew of verse 1 is an intensified form of the verb, literally, Waiting, I waited. The New English Bible translates it, I waited, waited for the Lord. Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil: Turned backward, as they are who are unsuccessful, or are defeated (compare John 18:6). But when youre in a pit, there is a sense of urgency. No doubt, David was rejoicing and glad about his deliverance when it came, but he makes the point here to rejoice and be glad in You (in the Lord). Psalm 40 Commentary - Explaining the Book In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 39 . In the first half (40:1-10), David tells how God got him out of one pit and he sings Gods praise for doing so. Many times one sin leads to another sin and we have great difficulty trying to extract ourselves from the mire. November 2022 As Christians, we have cried out to the Lord to save us from the pit of destruction. In verse 3, David expresses his hope that because of his testimony of waiting on the Lord, others will also come to trust in Him. Rather, God wants us to desire to do His will and have His law in our hearts (vs. 8). Because our tendency, even after salvation, is to think that we can do it ourselves, the Lord graciously keeps putting us in one pit after another, so that we cry out to Him. God knows every word that you have uttered, bad or good. When a million-man Ethiopian army invaded Judah, Asa called out to God and affirmed his trust in God alone to deliver them (2 Chron. 1:7b-9), when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. In verse 3 he says, He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord. In verse 4, David testifies to the blessing that is on the man who makes the Lord his trust. We have previously noticed in these psalms of David that we must draw near to God for God to draw near to us. And he inclined unto me: That is, ultimately, he heard and answered me. Then, to be laid waste, or made desolate. And by which it will appear that he that trusteth in thee is in a most blessed and safe condition, as he said (Psalm 40:4). Naomi Truly, up to the Lord is the only place to look in time of need and time to repent. He is the subject of the wheel within the wheel. I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart., The thought of verses 6-8 in the context is (I am following J. J. S. Perowne, The Book of Psalms [Zondervan], p. 335), My heart is full of Your abundant goodness towards me. Some versions say, You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you (ESV). Verses 6-8: The author of Hebrews dramatically applies these verses to the Greater David (10:5-7). Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but Gods kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. For of the time of his coming into the world are these words interpreted (Heb. The term imagery can be a bit misleading. Or that particular law, injunction, and command laid upon him by his Father, to offer himself a sacrifice, and lay down his life for men. Jesus formally preached three and one half years while He was on the earth. 12:1-2). His petition is a plea for deliverance from his enemies, but it is wider than that. WebImagery is a literary device that refers to the use of figurative language to evoke a sensory experience or create a picture with words for a reader. In our day, we would call this a last will and testament. Therefore, when the passage says, I have come to do your will he is not speaking in terms of coming to do what God says, though Christ certainly did what God said. How could we ever stop magnifying the name of the Lord? Commentary for Psalms 40 . David sees his need for God to take care of his sins. Holy Week The NIV Application Commentary offers fantastic background to the meaning of instruments in Psalms. But it would be far more applicable to the circumstances in which the Redeemer was placed. Aha, aha: The exclamation of malicious pleasure at anothers misfortune (compare Psalms 35:21; 35:25). He was a good king who instituted many reforms in Judah. Thou art my help and my deliverer: Implying the highest confidence (see notes at Psalm 18:2). The One Who Rescues Me. Who pardons their sins, clothes them with the robes of righteousness and garments of salvation, and accepts their persons in Christ. April 2021 All which is a matter of joy and gladness. When we build upon Him, we shall not be moved. 16:7-9). The Targum is, they shall, or let them rejoice, and be glad in thy word. 40 I hoped [ a]earnestly for Yahweh; And He inclined to me and heard my cry for help. What a wonderful Savior is Jesus our Lord. Or he turned himself favorably toward me, as the result of persevering prayer. Registration confirmation will be emailed to you. First, good actions do not take care of our sins. A psalm. Maundy Thursday The following notes will help to follow Davids mental movements through these 17 verses: Two situations constitute the framework for the psalmists publicized expressions of worship in Psalm 40. Body Ruth Spirit. The proud and liars are just about in the same boat. 21:6; Deut. Prayers for a Present Situation (40:11-17). The imagery indicates that the Lord rescued David from his enemies and provided security for him. To wait on the Lord is blessed. Rather, it is an intently active time when your situation in the pit tunes your heart to the Lord in ways that you would not normally experience. Psalm 40:17 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.. Synecdoche. And yet I never heard any newsman giving thanks to God for preserving us from destruction! David expresses in this, that he had so many iniquities, it even kept him from looking up. 3:2; 4:15; 1 Kings 14:4; compare Psalm 6:7). Mine ears hast thou opened: Literally ears or two ears You have dug for me. 40:9; 41:27; 52:7 60:6; 61:1), is the precursor of the New Testament terminology for the gospel and preaching the gospel, i.e., announcing the good news. He is the Rock that the builders rejected. This page last updated: September 8, 2022. Blakes If youre seeking the Lord and not just deliverance from your pit, you wont forget about God after He delivers you. First, the blood of animals does not take away sins. January 2023 But we need God to help us out of these pits. When you need them the most, they will let you down. It may not have been easy, but we made it because the Lord was there for us. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.. We must not build upon shifting sand, but on the solid Rock who is our Lord. Jesus Or the salvation of him, his deliverance from the grave, resurrection from the dead, and exaltation. Psalms 40 Actually, it is the number that your angels are sending to you in order to tell you something that could be very important. How imagery has been used in literature, movies, songs, and everyday speech. Much of the imagery of the Psalms is built upon a handful of core images found in Genesis that appear again and again in the Psalter and throughout Scripture. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. Its the worst of all pits to be in! Either in general (John 5:39; Luke 24:27; or particularly in Psalm 1:1). You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.. Imagery adds to the reader's understanding of a text and its themes. This is the reverse of that. This imagery is expressed in two books, the book of life and the book of deeds. Then, the recompence, reward, wages, as being the end, the result, or issue of a certain course of conduct. just a few moments later, Jesus commanded His Spirit to Go to the Father. (11-17) 1-5 Doubts and fears about the eternal state, are a horrible pit and miry clay, and have been so to many a dear child of God. And shall trust in the Lord: Shall confide in God. You dont need a Savior unless you are helpless at the bottom of a slimy pit. Jesus explained to the disciples that He had not kept secrets from them. We underestimate the impact that God can make in our lives. In Psalm 40:7-10 David shifted to himself, recounting the things that he had done for God. Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.. Who fulfilled the offerings and the sacrifices for all time? 38:6). With a telescope, astronomers know that many of those stars are anything but little. February 2022 He can be the replacement to help us overcome our destructive habits. We must look to Jesus from whence cometh our help. The LORD be magnified for ever more. Psalm 40 continues to describe the despair David feels as the result of his own sins. Psalm 30:5 Meaning of Verse and Simple Commentary Psalm 119, like most of the psalms, was originally composed as a song to be sung in praising God. Grace Ask, and it shall be given you. This private commitment of the psalmist was also revealed publicly (verses 9-10). 9 though we are commanded to love our enemies (Matt. If youre going to persevere with Christ, you must know in advance that you will face times when you are in the pit, and you must know what to do when youre there. This can be used to give context to the events of your story, to immerse your reader in an unfamiliar setting, to communicate mood and tone for a particular scene, or to create an emotional response in your reader. For on the execution of that design depended the salvation of a lost race. Lo, I come: O Father; as Apollinarius, in his metaphase adds; that is freely, and without compulsion. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. David needs forgiveness for all his sins. 01:26:40. The NIV Application Commentary offers fantastic background to the meaning of instruments in Psalms. Pushing the limits of AI and Computer Vision and Deep Learning, introducing a system that sees the road, learns and plans in real time. In the poem, the poet has presented an image of a broad battlefield and an image of a bivouac, a temporary camp for soldiers. Davids desire was always to make such commitment contagious. Psalm 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.. Arizona mud is especially sticky and slippery. David is trying to tell us that doing good deeds does not appease God. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Delighting both to meditate on it, and to yield obedience to it. David says (Ps. If they had, God would desire sacrifice and burnt offerings. Composed, as appears from the titles, mainly for use in the great congregation, they set forth the righteousness, faithfulness, salvation, loving-kindness, and truth of God in the strongest possible way. This is a prayer from David, and could very well be a prayer for true believers today. Messianic The NIV, for example, translates, Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me. But Derek Kidner (Psalms 1-72 [IVP], p. 160) says that unquestionably it is not a prayer; its a statement or reaffirmation of trust: (NASB) You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me. Waiting on the Lord means, Lord, Youre my only hope for deliverance.. (See notes on Psalms 35:4; 35:26). Joneses Some read these words as expressive of faith in these things, thou wilt not withhold, etc. Or when it seemed as if his prayers would not be answered. The rest of the psalm describes how David was praying for the deliverance before he received it. Psalm 40:1-3 have been used by many songwriters over the years as the basis for their own praise because of its imagery of sinking helplessly into a pit of mud.1. Where did David say God had put a new song? If David turned to some human scheme for deliverance, then David and his ingenuity would get the credit. Righteousness In one Sunday service, someone I know was gloriously delivered of alcohol addiction while a prayer was being sung. He preserved them in the wilderness. I wonder how they felt when it became dark in the middle of the day, and the earth begain to shake? It matters little who does forsake us, if he does not. Clearly this was one of the reasons why David was a man after Gods own heart. Immediately, at once, without any delay; and he himself, and not another. 40:1), I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. Waiting on the Lord is a common theme in Scripture. Our faith in God will move mountains. Perhaps our problem many times, is that we tire of waiting. Jesus said it all when He said, Not my will but thine be done. As understood of the Messiah, this would refer to the times when his life was in danger, as it often was, before the full period had arrived for him to die (John 7:6; Matt. Praise and worship songs prepare the heart to receive the sermon. 13:11; 17:13; 19:20; 21:21), where the phrase, all Israel shall hear and fear, is used of the effect produced by the capital punishment of a high-handed transgressor of the Law. For which I and the rest of thy people, included in the pronoun plural us, have abundant cause to praise thee, and to trust in thee, as was said (Psalm 40:3). Psalm 40 is a song about the pits. It falls into two sections. In the first half (40:1-10), David tells how God got him out of one pit and he sings Gods praise for doing so. But he did not then live happily ever after. Rather, it is evident from the second half of the psalm (40:11-17) that he is in another pit, Horrible pit the miry clay: The imagery describes his past hopeless and helpless situation; compare the language of (Psalm. John 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground., Psalm 40:15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.. David describes to us the great blessings of having a right relationship with God and putting our trust in God. As always, David was weighed down with the knowledge of his own sinfulness. The proud are those that boast in their own abilities. There, the author quotes the LXX, which translates the second line of verse 6, a body You have prepared for Me. This was apparently an interpretive paraphrase, where they used a part (the ear) and expanded it to the whole body (F. F. Bruce, Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews [Eerdmans], p. 232). 10:5). 15:22), Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? How many times do we find Paul in terrible circumstances? The cry which I directed to him in the depth of my sorrows and my danger (Psalm 40:2). If you fell into a pit whose walls and bottom were mud, you would be in big trouble! December 2022 December 2020 This, though in a general sense it may be true of David and of all Gods people, yet if it be compared with the foregoing verse. So as you wait on Him now in whatever pit you may be in, recount His many wonders and His kind thoughts toward you. Shall put their trust in him and shall become his true worshippers and friends. The problem, I believe, is that we do not believe God is this active in our lives. David beseeches God, whose loving-kindness is so great (verse 10), not to withhold from him those tender mercies which he lavishes so freely. Let all those that seek thee in the first place, with their whole hearts be glad in thee. 5:7). When he was about to endure the agonies of Gethsemane and Calvary. Psalm 40 New International Version Psalm 40[ a] For the director of music. He says (v. 5), Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You. But more important, God can do something about our lives. Church November 2020 Psalm 40:11 "Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy And it has respect not to (Deut. 17:11). Look at all these nice, available non-Christians who could meet your needs! Keep obeying Gods Word as you wait. Psalm Community Verse 5 concludes, they would be too many to declare.. Psalms 40:5 (KJV) Square Portrait Landscape 4K UHD. Jesus will establish our goings, if we will do what? We want it done instantly, but God has other purposes. There is no sin in the wish that the wicked may not be successful in their plans, and may not be suffered to injure us. What a wonderful Savior is ________ _____ _______. 1 Answers. Perhaps as with Pauls thorn in the flesh, we are not told so that we can relate all of our trials to Davids situation. As in the council and covenant of peace, when and where he declared his willingness to come into the world, and make satisfaction for the sins of his people. perception. Why He loved us so much is impossible to explain. This is not necessary, since the man of God can present his lament and petition to God, while at the same time offering his thanksgiving. The psalmists life is still threatened by enemies (verse 14); he is still scoffed at and taunted (verse 15). Which was to die, and that a most shameful, and painful, and cursed death (see Luke 12:50; John 10:18; Heb. But God has lifted us out of that mire, set us on stable ground, and made us victorious. So, when the fullness of time was come for his appearance in human nature, he repeated the same. Either by weeping, or by the mere pressure of suffering, he was so affected as to be almost deprived of the power of seeing. So its a psalm about what to do when youre in the pit. If you think, Oh no, God has abandoned me! web design faculty. But David is telling us it happened to him and it can happen to us. Not only has this song come into my heart, but is springing forth from my mouth as well. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:4-6 is a I believe that the verse above is saying, it will be hard for them to find a way to repent of this. Membership Let such as love thy salvation: Either Christ, who is Gods salvation (Gen. 49:18); and who is loved by his people, universally, superlatively, and sincerely. The old covenant sacrifices did not take care of our sins nor the reminder of guilt caused by the sacrifices. The Hebrew text (of Ps. And respecteth not the proud: Such as the Pharisees, and all self-righteous persons, who trust in themselves and their own righteousness. But he did not then live happily ever after. In verse 4, David writes, How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. When youre in a pit, its very easy, even if you profess to trust in the Lord at other times, to grab onto any seeming way of escape, even if it means compromising your faith. Psalm 40 continues to describe the despair David feels as the result of his own sins. As we examine this psalm, we will notice a layout that some may consider backward. The first section of the psalm describes God delivering David. Each of us must call to the Lord for help us out of our mess. Passover beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they He was trapped and unable to free himself. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be And become the Israel of God, are alike indebted to him for the wonderful strains in which he has shown forth and magnified these qualities of the Almighty. Ultimately however, he bent forward to receive my prayer. What does it mean to commit your way to the Lord (Psalm 37:5)? His petition is a plea for deliverance from his enemies, but it is wider than that. Psalm 40 is primarily a psalm of thanksgiving, although it does include petition toward the end as well. Davids spirit here was encountered previously in Psalm 22:22-23. But here, the reason that David waits on the Lord and seeks Him is so that He will be magnified, or glorified. If It Is During The Millennium How Will There Not Be Pain And Tears When The Devil Is Released To Deceive The Nations? The first sentence of this psalm shows us that David is practicing what he has been preaching in the past two psalms. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. We know that some said, surely this was the Son of God. August 2020, All After saying that God did not desire sacrifices and offerings, Jesus says that he came to this earth to do the will of God. Make no tarrying, O our God: But come, Lord Jesus, come quickly (Rev. Further, David understood that he was deserving of the just punishment for his sins. We may be in a pit of hell, but Jesus will lift us up out of that pit and establish our goings, if we will only repent of our sins and receive Him as our Savior. From uncontrolled temper, to alcohol, from laziness toward God to drugs, from patterns of self-pity to sexual sins, we all have to deal with habits that are not acceptable and work to break them. 104). In the fulfilment of which the lovingkindness, truth, and faithfulness of God, would appear. We were mired in our sins with no way out. Read the story of King Saul (1 Samuel 15). Many times our pit is dealing with failure. The new direction His way led us was rock solid (Psalm 40:2) and will never let us down. He had said before, they have ears to hear and cannot hear. It means to wait expectantly as you hope for Gods promises to be fulfilled on your behalf. NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 40:1-3 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. The patriarch Joseph experienced the calamity of being thrown into a pit, in a very literal sense. After his work was done and after he rose from the dead. David does not specify exactly what the trials of the first pit entailed. Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.. Constant situational awareness. Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified! In this context, seeking the Lord is a synonym for crying out to Him in expectant prayer. Psalm 40:1-3 have been used by many songwriters over the years as the basis for their own praise because of its imagery of sinking helplessly into a pit of mud. The implication is that all that God has done for us is so numerous that no one could remotely recount it all. It gets on your shoes and you cant walk. Psalm 40:11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.. Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'. Imagery of Sheep in Scripture. We must bring our failures in life and with God to the Lord. He especially takes note when you are trying to get others into the kingdom of God. Be pleased, O Lord to restore the church unto Yourself. The Word of God created the universe and everything in it for a habitation for man. imagery in psalm 40 Figures of Speech in Psalms | Sermon Preparation Tips In Is.40:11 he pictures the Shepherd's protection by pointing out his care for the most helpless of the flock. If the Lord does not deliver us, there is no hope. Because David waited intently on the Lord to rescue him from the first pit, he knew how to wait on the Lord to get him out of the second pit. Even praise unto our God: To our God; identifying himself, as the Messiah does, with his people, and expressing the idea that the new song of praise was appropriate to them as well as to himself. Since they would be benefited by his work, and since God was their God as well as his (compare John 20:17). Dont turn to the world for answers. We must remember that God has carried us through other terrible circumstances. As David turns his cries to the Lord, the Lord responds by turning to David, noticing his plight and hearing his cry. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2009, All Rights Reserved. Thats where David was. From Isaiah 40:11 to Psalm 100:3 to John 10:1-18, sheep are portrayed as slightly defenseless. We will sing a new song of praise and thanksgiving around the throne of God in heaven. Ps 58:4-9 - incantation - imagery - analogy - serpents - childbirth This article explores the similarities between Ps 58:4-9 and the imagery and logic found in incantatory texts from Syro-Mesopotamia.1 An initial point of departure for comparing incantations from Syro-Mesopotamia with Ps 58:4-9 is the work of the anthropologist Stanley J. Tambiah. He offered Himself and fulfilled all offerings and sacrifices. I think that he is not referring to sins that he was currently committing, but rather to the consequences of past sins that were now coming home to roost. The movie was full of biblical imagery. God always hears the prayers of His own. This is one of the great blessings we miss in this text. A new song (see note on Psalm 33:3). Psalm 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.. Or the salvation he is the author of, which is loved by those that know it. A Psalm. They chart a profound and vital relationship with God, with all the ups and downs that January 2021 Or that in respect to success they might be like a waste and desolate field where nothing grows. thy lovingkindness and thy truth shall continually preserve me., David in these verses, is jumping back and forth from his own situation to the prophetic message of Jesus. He sent His Son to offer Himself obediently on the cross on our behalf (as Ps. We were hiking in the rain in Nepal when Marla slipped and hurt herself. The benefits of which believers share in, and so have reason to love it. Rather than follow the structure of the psalm, I want to follow Davids plan for getting out of a pit and his example of what to do when the Lord rescues you. We have the tendency to think God cannot make these radical changes in our lives. Vision-based. WebWe are Imagry, an autonomous technologies software provider, and we have created a mapless autonomous driving solution. David not only told everyone he saw about God and His goodness, but he even wrote these Psalms proclaiming to all future generations the goodness of the Lord. However, I believe the quotation from the writer of Hebrews has opened our eyes to what David needs. God established the earth so that it is hospitable for us to live here. Intently on the cross on our behalf ( as Ps in that pit from Isaiah 40:11 to 100:3... Week the NIV Application Commentary offers fantastic background to the Father did not take care of his sins... The lying vanities of the reasons why David was a psalm about what to do when youre a! 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