For the music director; By David, a psalm. 

 

David wrote this song when he was in trouble.

 

40:1 I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help. 

 

David was in trouble, so he relied on Jehovah to help him.

 

40:2 He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing. 

 

Jehovah lifted David out of a slimy and watery pit and placed him on a strong rocky foundation.

 

40:3 He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord! 

 

Jehovah gave David another reason to sing a new song. This new song praised Jehovah for his accomplishments. David wrote at least 73 of these songs. 

 

40:4 How blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord and does not seek help from the proud or from liars! 

 

Those who trust in Jehovah are those who study and apply sound Bible doctrine. These doctrinally-sound believers are blessed by Jehovah. They do not seek help from those who are proud. Those who are proud are the secular humanists who elevate their human opinion above the Word of God. The liars are those who claim that they are right and the Bible is wrong.

 

40:5 O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount! 

 

Jehovah has done many marvelous miracles. His sovereign will is always accomplished. No one can stop God from carrying out His plans. David wants to praise God and tell others about His mighty accomplishments. However, there are too many marvelous accounts for David to even remember.

 

40:6 Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. You make that quite clear to me! You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings. 

 

The purpose of the sacrifices was to point to the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

 

40:7 Then I say, “Look! I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me. 

 

David studied and applied Bible doctrine from the scrolls of the written text which was available in that day. 

 

40:8 I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts.” 

 

After David studied Bible doctrine, then he was motivated to apply what he had learned.

 

40:9 I have told the great assembly about your justice. Look! I spare no words! O Lord, you know this is true.

 

David taught the congregation the Bible doctrines which he had learned from the written scrolls. The congregation knew that David was teaching the truth.

 

40:10 I have not failed to tell about your justice; I spoke about your reliability and deliverance; I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness. 

 

David taught the congregation about Jehovah’s justice, reliability, deliverance, loyal love, and faithfulness.

 

40:11 O Lord, you do not withhold your compassion from me. May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me! 

 

David asked Jehovah to not withhold His compassion from him. He asked Jehovah to continually protect him with His loyal love and faithfulness.

 

40:12 For innumerable dangers surround me. My sins overtake me so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me. 

 

Innumerable dangers were surrounding David. David was blinded by his own sin and could not see all of the dangers. The dangers outnumbered the hairs on his head.

 

40:13 Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me! O Lord, hurry and help me! 

 

David hoped that Jehovah would be willing to rescue him. If so, then he asked Jehovah to hurry with the task.

 

40:14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed! 

 

David asked Jehovah to embarrass those who were attempting to take his life.

 

40:15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be humiliated and disgraced! 

 

David’s enemies were mocking and laughing at David’s embarrassing position.

 

40:16 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, “May the Lord be praised!”

 

David asked all of the believers to praise Jehovah.

 

40:17 I am oppressed and needy! May the Lord pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay! 

 

David cried out that he was being oppressed and he needed divine help. He asked Jehovah to pay attention to his needs. Jehovah was David’s helper and deliver. He asked God to not delay his deliverance.