Psalms 40:1-17 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

XL. A. Psalms 40:1-11. A Thanksgiving for Deliverance. The Psalmist believes that his own gratitude will give confidence to others. God, he says, takes no special delight in sacrificial worship. It is gratitude and submission to God's will which find acceptance with Him.

Do the contents of the Ps. furnish any real indication of its date? It has been attributed to Jeremiah for reasons which, though plausible, are not convincing, and have now been generally abandoned. (a) Psalms 40:2 a certainly recalls the prophet's fate as told in Jeremiah 28:1-13. But the language of the Ps. is evidently metaphorical, and the words set me on a rock have no parallel in Jeremiah's case. (b) The Ps., like Psalms 50, 51, depreciates sacrifice. So does Jeremiah in Jeremiah 7:21 f., and this indeed is the general teaching of the prophets. At most, then, this would prove the Ps. anterior to the publication of P, which enforced the obligation of sacrifice. Moreover P imposes the duty of sacrifice on the community as a body, whereas the Psalmist is thinking of individuals. God, as he believes, regards sacrifice with indifference and desires obedience. (c) Other resemblance to Jeremiah may be reasonably explained by supposing that the Psalmist was familiar with his writings.

Psalms 40:2. miry clay is doubtful. Clay bottom of the sea is a possible emendation.

Psalms 40:4 b. Read, perhaps, And hath not turned to vain things, i.e. idols. The poet is thinking of apostate Jews.

Psalms 40:5 c. Read, There is none to be compared with thee (mg.).

Psalms 40:6. God in creating man has bored ears in his body, i.e. He has given him ears that he may know the Divine Law. God regards sacrifices with indifference. The Psalmist comes obedient to His call and fulfils the commandment prescribed to him (mg.) in the sacred roll. By a slip of the pen the LXX scribe wrote a body (somation) instead of ears (otia) and an argument has been founded on the corrupt text in Hebrews 10:5 *.

XL. B. Psalms 40:13-17. A Ps. or fragment of a Ps. completely diverse. It describes the sufferings of a man punished for his sins and surrounded by unscrupulous foes.

Psalms 40:12 is by an editor who wished to connect the Pss. with each other.

Psalms 40:13-17 recurs in Psalms 70.

Psalms 40:15. Read with LXX of Psalms 70:3, Let them be turned back by reason of their shame, i.e. of their disappointment.

Related Commentaries of Psalms 40:1

Psalms 40:1-17

1 I waiteda patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horribleb pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened:c burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is withind my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

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

16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.