Psalm 40

Authorship

This Psalm was authored by David.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. The results of patient waiting: (1-3)

A. He inclined unto me.

B. He heard my cry.

C. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit.

D. He brought me out of the miry clay.

E. He set my feet upon a rock.

F. He established my goings.

G. He put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.

H. Many shall:

1. See it.

2. Fear.

3. Trust in the Lord.

II. The blessed man: (4)

A. Makes the Lord his trust

B. Does not respect the proud.

C. Does not respect those who turn aside to lies.

III. The wonderful works of God: (5)

A. They are many.

B. They include thoughts of us.

C. If we could speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

IV. What God does not want: (6)

A. Sacrifice and offering.

B. Burnt offering.

C. Sin offering.

V. What God wants: (7-10)

A. Delight in doing His will.

B. His law written within our heart.

C. Declaring to others:

1. His righteousness.

2. His faithfulness.

3. His salvation.

4. His loving kindness.

5. His truth.

VI. The psalmist’s prayer: (11)

A. The requests: (11,13-15)

1. Withhold not Your tender mercies from me.

2. Let Your loving kindness and truth continually preserve me.

3. Deliver me.

4. Make haste to help me.

5. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek to destroy my soul.

6. Let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

7. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, “Aha, aha.”

8. Do not tarry!

B. The reason for the prayer: (12)

1. Innumerable evils have compassed me about.

2. My iniquities have taken hold upon me:

a. I am not able to look up.

b. They are more than the hairs of mine head.

c. Therefore my heart fails me.

C. The results of prayer: (16-17)

1. Those that seek God will rejoice and be glad in Him.

2. Those who love Your salvation will continually declare, “The Lord be magnified.”

3. The Lord will think upon the poor and needy.

4. He will be a help and deliverer.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 40,8(7)b {A}

Ps 40,9(8) וְתוֹרָתְךָ {B} MT, G, Hebr, S, T // err-synt: σ' clav תורתך

Ps 40,10(9) יְהְוָה אַתָּה {A}