
Text -- Psalms 40:1 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
JFB -> Psa 40:1-3; Psa 40:1-3
JFB: Psa 40:1-3 - -- In this Psalm a celebration of God's deliverance is followed by a profession of devotion to His service. Then follows a prayer for relief from imminen...
In this Psalm a celebration of God's deliverance is followed by a profession of devotion to His service. Then follows a prayer for relief from imminent dangers, involving the overthrow of enemies and the rejoicing of sympathizing friends. In Heb 10:5, &c., Paul quotes Psa 40:6-8 as the words of Christ, offering Himself as a better sacrifice. Some suppose Paul thus accommodated David's words to express Christ's sentiments. But the value of his quotation would be thus destroyed, as it would have no force in his argument, unless regarded by his readers as the original sense of the passage in the Old Testament. Others suppose the Psalm describes David's feelings in suffering and joy; but the language quoted by Paul, in the sense given by him, could not apply to David in any of his relations, for as a type the language is not adapted to describe any event or condition of David's career, and as an individual representing the pious generally, neither he nor they could properly use it (see on Psa 40:7, below). The Psalm must be taken then, as the sixteenth, to express the feelings of Christ's human nature. The difficulties pertinent to this view will be considered as they occur. (Psa. 40:1-17)
The figures for deep distress are illustrated in Jeremiah's history (Jer 38:6-12). Patience and trust manifested in distress, deliverance in answer to prayer, and the blessed effect of it in eliciting praise from God's true worshippers, teach us that Christ's suffering is our example, and His deliverance our encouragement (Heb 5:7-8; Heb 12:3; 1Pe 4:12-16).
Clarke: Psa 40:1 - -- I waited patiently for the Lord - The two preceding Psalms are proofs of the patience and resignation with which David waited for the mercy of God. ...
I waited patiently for the Lord - The two preceding Psalms are proofs of the patience and resignation with which David waited for the mercy of God. The reader is requested to consult the notes on them

Clarke: Psa 40:1 - -- And heard my cry - The two preceding Psalms show how he prayed and waited; this shows how he succeeded.
And heard my cry - The two preceding Psalms show how he prayed and waited; this shows how he succeeded.
Calvin -> Psa 40:1
Calvin: Psa 40:1 - -- 1.In waiting I waited The beginning of this psalm is an expression of thanksgiving, in which David relates that he had been delivered, not only from ...
1.In waiting I waited The beginning of this psalm is an expression of thanksgiving, in which David relates that he had been delivered, not only from danger, but also from present death. Some are of opinion, but without good reason, that it ought to be understood of sickness. It is rather to be supposed that David here comprehends a multitude of dangers from which he had escaped. He had certainly been more than once exposed to the greatest danger, even of death, so that, with good reason, he might be said to have been swallowed up in the gulf of death, and sunk in the miry clay It, nevertheless, appears that his faith had still continued firm, for he ceased not to trust in God, although the long continuance of the calamity had well nigh exhausted his patience. He tells us, not merely that he had waited, but by the repetition of the same expression, he shows that he had been a long time in anxious suspense. In proportion then as his trial was prolonged, the evidence and proof of his faith in enduring the delay with calmness and equanimity of mind was so much the more apparent. The meaning in short is, that although God delayed his help, yet the heart of David did not faint, or grow weary from delay; but that after he had given, as it were, sufficient proof of his patience, he was at length heard. In his example there is set before us this very useful doctrine, that although God may not forthwith appear for our help, but rather of design keep us in suspense and perplexity, yet we must not lose courage, inasmuch as faith is not thoroughly tried, except by long endurance. The result, too, of which he speaks in terms of praise, ought to inspire us with increased fortitude. God may succor us more slowly than we desire, but, when he seems to take no notice of our condition, or, if we might so speak, when he seems to be inactive or to sleep, this is totally different from deceit: for if we are enabled by the invincible strength and power of faith to endure, the fitting season of our deliverance will at length arrive.
TSK -> Psa 40:1
TSK: Psa 40:1 - -- am 2970, bc 1034 (Title), This psalm is supposed to have been composed by David about the same time, and on the same occasion, as the two preceding; w...
am 2970, bc 1034 (Title), This psalm is supposed to have been composed by David about the same time, and on the same occasion, as the two preceding; with this difference, that here he magnifies God for have obtained the mercy which he sought there. It also contains a remarkable prophecy of the incarnation and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
I waited : Heb. In waiting I waited, Psa 27:13, Psa 27:14, Psa 37:7; Jam 5:7-11

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Psa 40:1
Barnes: Psa 40:1 - -- I waited patiently for the Lord - Margin, as in Hebrew, "In waiting I waited."That is, "I continued to wait."It was not a single, momentary act...
I waited patiently for the Lord - Margin, as in Hebrew, "In waiting I waited."That is, "I continued to wait."It was not a single, momentary act of expectation or hope; it was continuous; or, was persevered in. The idea is, that his prayer was not answered at once, but that it was answered after he had made repeated prayers, or when it seemed as if his prayers would not be answered. It is earnest, persevering prayer that is referred to; it is continued supplication and hope when there seemed to be no answer to prayer, and no prospect that it would be answered.
And he inclined unto me - That is, ultimately he heard and answered me; or he turned himself favorably toward me, as the result of "persevering"prayer. The word "inclined"here means properly "bowed;"that is, he "bent forward"to hearken, or to place his ear near my mouth and to hear me. At first, he seemed as one that would not hear; as one that throws his head backward or turns his head away. Ultimately, however, he bent forward to receive my prayer.
And heard my cry - The cry or supplication which I made for help; the cry which I directed to him in the depth of my sorrows and my danger, Psa 40:2. 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 Mat 26:36-46. Compare the notes at Heb 5:7. The time supposed to be referred to, is after his sufferings were closed; after his work was done; "after"he rose from the dead. It is the language of grateful remembrance which we may suppose he uttered in the review of the amazing sorrows through which he had passed in making the atonement, and in the recollection that God had kept him in those sorrows, and had brought him up from such a depth of woe to such a height of glory.
Haydock: Psa 40:1 - -- The happiness of him that shall believe in Christ; notwithstanding the humility and poverty in which he shall come: the malice of his enemies, especia...
The happiness of him that shall believe in Christ; notwithstanding the humility and poverty in which he shall come: the malice of his enemies, especially the traitor Judas.

Haydock: Psa 40:1 - -- Himself; implying, that David composed this psalm, though the word is not expressed in Hebrew or Greek. (Berthier; T. iii.) ---
The same articles, ...
Himself; implying, that David composed this psalm, though the word is not expressed in Hebrew or Greek. (Berthier; T. iii.) ---
The same articles, however, occur, which have been thus rendered before. (Haydock) ---
Some explain this psalm of the sickness of Ezechias, (Ven. Bede) or of that of David, a little before the revolt of Absalom. (Rab. Muis; Bossuet) ---
This may be described as a figure of our Saviour's sufferings. (Calmet) ---
For it would be rash not to acknowledge, that He is here the principal object in view, (Theodoret) since he has applied (ver. 10.) to the traitor's conduct, (Calmet) and all the rest may properly allude to the same events. The psalmist speaks of the Messias in the six first verses, and introduces him, in the remainder, uttering his own sentiments, (Berthier) respecting his passion and resurrection. (Worthington) (Isaias liii. 4.) (Menochius)
Gill -> Psa 40:1
Gill: Psa 40:1 - -- I waited patiently for the Lord,.... Or "waiting I waited" i; which denotes continuance, constancy, and patience; and which Christ exercised in the ga...
I waited patiently for the Lord,.... Or "waiting I waited" i; which denotes continuance, constancy, and patience; and which Christ exercised in the garden, when he submitted himself entirely to the will of God; and on the cross, when he continued in sure hope and firm expectation of his help and assistance, though he was for a while forsaken by him; see Isa 50:7;
and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry; both in the garden, by delivering him from fear of death; and on the cross, by upholding, helping, and assisting him, by carrying him through his sufferings and death, and raising him from the dead; see Isa 49:8.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Psa 40:1 Heb “relying, I relied.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verbal form to emphasize the verbal idea. The emphasis is reflected i...
Geneva Bible -> Psa 40:1
Geneva Bible: Psa 40:1 "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David." I waited ( a ) patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
( a ) Though God deferre...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Psa 40:1-17
TSK Synopsis: Psa 40:1-17 - --1 The benefit of confidence in God.6 Obedience is the best sacrifice.11 The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer.
MHCC -> Psa 40:1-5
MHCC: Psa 40:1-5 - --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. There is power enough in God...
Matthew Henry -> Psa 40:1-5
Matthew Henry: Psa 40:1-5 - -- In these verses we have, I. The great distress and trouble that the psalmist had been in. He had been plunged into a horrible pit and into miry clay...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Psa 40:1-4
Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 40:1-4 - --
David, who, though not without some hesitation, we regard as the author, now finds himself in a situation in which, on the one hand, he has just bee...
Constable -> Psa 40:1-17; Psa 40:1-9
Constable: Psa 40:1-17 - --Psalm 40
In this psalm David offered himself as a sacrifice to God because the Lord had delivered him. H...
