This Ps. falls into two well-marked divisions, which many think to have been originally separate Pss. In Psalms 40:1-11 the writer recalls with thankfulness how God has heard his prayers and delivered him from trouble (Psalms 40:1-4), declares the greatness of God's mercies (Psalms 40:5), presents himself as a living sacrifice (Psalms 40:6-8), and desires the continuance of God's blessing on account of his fearless witness for righteousness (Psalms 40:9-11). In Psalms 40:12-17, on the other hand, the Psalmist is in distress, both from sin (Psalms 40:12) and from persecution (Psalms 40:14-15). He pleads for the speedy confusion of his enemies, and for the deliverance both of himself and of all who seek God (Psalms 40:13-17). This part of the Ps. resembles Psalms 35; Psalms 40:13-17 are reproduced with some variations as Psalms 70; Psalms 40:6-7 are applied to Christ in Hebrews 10:5-9. The Ps. is probably a national Psalm. In it the nation, or the church, rather than the individual, is speaking. The horrible pit will then be the pit of exile, and the new song will be that sung for deliverance from exile and restitution to the home-land. This is one of the Pss. for Good Friday.
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.