Psalms 40:4 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

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

The inference from the gracious deliverance vouchsafed by the Lord to Him (as the Sufferer in confident faith foresees it will be).

Blessed is that man that ... respecteth not the proud - literally, 'turneth not himself to' them. So Job 36:21, "regard not (Hebrew, 'turn not thyself to') iniquity." Doth not go over to the same party as "the proud," the opposite to those "that make the Lord their trust." The latter are "poor in spirit" and humble; and feeling their own nothingness, make the Lord their sole confidence.

Nor such as turn aside to lies - i:e., such as through self-conceit deviate from God, the true object of trust, to all vain confidences (Romans 1:21-23; Romans 1:25). All else that man leans upon, beside the living God, belies him with deceitful hopes-idols (Jeremiah 16:9) and all creaturely dependencies (Psalms 62:9).

Psalms 40:4

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