Psalms 40:8

8 I delight to do Your will, my God; Your instruction resides within me."[a] [b]

Psalms 40:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 40:8

I delight to do thy will, O my God
This he came down from heaven to do, and this he did do, by preaching the Gospel, and working miracles; and above all by obtaining eternal redemption for his people, which he effected by fulfilling the law, becoming a sacrifice, and suffering and dying in their room; all which were the will of God, and grateful to him, and in doing which Christ took the utmost delight and pleasure, ( John 4:34 ) ( Luke 12:50 ) ;

yea, thy law [is] within my heart;
either the whole moral law, under which he was, as man, and the surety of his people; and which was written upon his heart, and which he perfectly obeyed; 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; which he agreed to, had it in his mind, his heart was set upon it, and he cheerfully complied with it, ( John 10:18 ) ( 14:31 ) .

Psalms 40:8 In-Context

6 You do not delight in sacrifice and offering; You open my ears to listen. You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.
7 Then I said, "See, I have come; it is written about me in the volume of the scroll.
8 I delight to do Your will, my God; Your instruction resides within me."
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; see, I do not keep my mouth closed -as You know, Lord.
10 I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart; I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal Your constant love and truth from the great assembly.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit instruction within my inner being
  • [b]. Heb 10:5-9
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.