1.
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. Mizmor. App-65 .
of David = by David, and relating to the true David.
I waited patiently. Hebrew in waiting I waited. Figure of speech Polyptoton, App-6 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
inclined = hath inclined.
heard = hath heard.
2.
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
brought = hath brought.
rock. Hebrew. sela'. See notes on Psalms 18:1 , Psalms 18:2 .
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.
a new song. See note on Psalms 33:3 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . I
see . . . and fear. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 . Hebrew. yir'u . . . v"yira'u = peer and fear.
trust = confide Hebrew. batah. App-69 .
4.
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Blessed = Happy. See App-63 .
man = strong man. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .
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.
hast done = didst.
thoughts. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
If I would = Fain would I.
numbered: or rehearsed.
6.
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Sacrifice. Hebrew. zabach. App-43 . Quoted in Hebrews 10:5-9 .
offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43 . Compare Hebrews 10:5-7 . Note the four great offerings here, and separately: Psalms 40:6 = any sacrifice; -6-, the meal offering; -6-, burnt offering; -6, sin offering (compare Psalms 22 ); and inPs. 69 =the trespass offering.
opened = digged. Kal Pret. of karah, = opening by digging, or boring. Note the occurrences: Genesis 50:5 . Num 24:18 . 2 Chronicles 16:14 (margin) Psalms 7:15 (margin); Psalms 40:6 ; Psalms 57:6 ; Psalms 119:85 .Jeremiah 18:22 , Jeremiah 18:22 , referring to the opening of the ear to hear; for which, in Isaiah 50:5 (compare Isaiah 48:8 ), another word ( pathah ) is used with the meaning of opening (as of a door). Note the obedience, which is the point emphasized by the alternation in Psalms 40:6 . | Sacrifice and offering. Not desired. | Mine ears hast Thou digged. (Pos.) | Burnt-offering and sin-offering. Not required. | Lo, I come to do. (Pos.) Obedience is the great truth here conveyed; and, on the same grounds as in 1 Samuel 15:22 .Jeremiah 7:22 , Jeremiah 7:23 .Hebrews 10:5 , is not a quotation of this verse: it is what Messiah "said" when He came into the world to perform what Psalms 40:6 prophesied , when He had become Incarnate, and could say "I am come". He must change the word "ears" for the "body", in which that obedience was to be accomplished, and He had a right to change the words, and thus adapt them. It is not a question of quotation, or of the Septuagint versus the Hebrew text. Note the heaping up of these expressions to emphasize the obedience, and observe the alternation of positive and negative in verses: Psalms 40:9 , Psalms 40:10 .
hast = didst.
7.
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Then said I: i.e. at Incarnation, when He "came into the world" (Hebrews 10:5 ).
volume of the book = scroll, that is to say, the book. Genitive of Apposition, and Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ) = the book of the law ( App-47 ).
it is written = it is prescribed. Compare 2 Kings 22:13 .
of me = for me. Joseph and Mary should have remembered what was "written" (Luke 2:49 ).
8.
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
delight. Note the double delight (Isaiah 42:1 .Matthew 3:17; Matthew 3:17 ).
will = good pleasure.
within = in the midst.
heart = bowels: i.e. my inward parts.
9.
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
preached = declared as glad tidings = euaggelizo in N.T.
congregation = assembly, or convocation.
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.
have not hid = did not hide.
salvation = or deliverance.
have not concealed = did not conceal.
from = in.
11.
Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Withhold not Thou = Thou wilt not withhold.
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.
evils = calamities. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .
iniquities. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for their punishment. Hebrew. 'aven. App-44 . Laid on Him as the substituted sacrifice.
am not able = was not able.
are more = were more.
heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for courage.
faileth me = failed 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.
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
15.
Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
Aha, aha. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 . Compare Psalms 35:21 ; Psalms 70:3 .
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.
Let. Some codices, with seven early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "And let". Compare Psalms 35:27 ; Psalms 70:4 .
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.
poor = afflicted. Hebrew. 'anah.
the LORD *. The primitive text read "Jehovah", but altered by the Sopherim to "Adonai". See App-32 . Some codices, with seven early printed editions, read "may Jehovah".
thinketh = will think. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for all that the thoughts can devise, plan, or order.