Psalms 40:8-17

8 I am happy to do your will, O my God." Your teachings are deep within me.
9 I will announce the good news of righteousness among those assembled for worship. I will not close my lips. You know that, O LORD.
10 I have not buried your righteousness deep in my heart. I have been outspoken about your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not hidden your mercy and your truth from those assembled for worship.
11 Do not withhold your compassion from me, O LORD. May your mercy and your truth always protect me.
12 Countless evils have surrounded me. My sins have caught up with me so that I can no longer see. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost heart.
13 O LORD, please rescue me! Come quickly to help me, O LORD!
14 Let all those who seek to end my life be confused and put to shame. Let those who want my downfall be turned back and disgraced.
15 Let those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be stunned by their own shame.
16 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you. Let those who love your salvation continually say, "The LORD is great!"
17 But I am oppressed and needy. May the Lord think of me. You are my help and my savior. O my God, do not delay!

Psalms 40:8-17 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. Jarchi interprets this psalm of the Israelites, and of their deliverance and song at the Red sea. The title of it, in the Syriac version, is, "A psalm of David according to the letter, when Shemaiah brought the names of those who minister in the house of the Lord;" see 1 Chronicles 24:6; according to Kimchi, the subject of this psalm is the same with that of the two preceding; and R. Obadiah thinks it was composed by David, when he was recovered of a leprosy; but though it might be written by David, it was not written concerning himself, or on his own account, but of another. The title of this psalm is somewhat different from others in the order of the words; whereas it is usually put "a psalm of," or "for David"; here it is, "for David, a psalm"; and may be rendered, as Ainsworth observes, "a psalm concerning David"; not literally, but typically understood; not concerning David himself, but concerning his antitype and son, who is called by his name, Ezekiel 37:24; and that it is to be interpreted of him is evident from the application of Psalm 39:6, unto him by the apostle in Hebrews 10:5; and the whole of it is applicable to him; some apply it to Jeremiah in the dungeon, and others to Daniel in the den, as Theodoret observes.
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