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 deferred his help, yet he patiently abode
till he was heard.
40:2 He brought me up also out of an b horrible pit, out of
the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and]
established my goings.
(b) He has delivered me from great dangers.
40:3 And he hath put c a new song in my mouth, [even] praise
unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall
trust in the LORD.
(c) That is, a special opportunity to praise him, for God's
benefits are so many opportunities for us to praise his
Name.
40:4 Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and
respecteth d not the proud, nor such as turn aside to
lies.
(d) To follow their example, which he must do who trusts
not only in the Lord.
40:5 Many, e 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.
(e) David goes from one king of God's favour to the
contemplation of his providence over all, and confesses
that his counsels toward us are far above our
capacities, we cannot so much as tell them in order.
40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; f mine ears
hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou
not required.
(f) You have opened my ears to understand the spiritual
meaning of the sacrifices: and here David esteems the
ceremonies of the law as nothing in respect to the
spiritual service.
40:7g Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it
is] written of me,
(g) When you had opened my ears and heart, I was ready to
obey you, being assured that I was written in the book
of your elect for this end.
40:9 I have preached righteousness in the h great
congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD,
thou knowest.
(h) In the Church assembled in the sanctuary.
40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have
declared thy i faithfulness and thy salvation: I have
not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the
great congregation.
(i) David here numbers three degrees of our salvation:
God's mercy, by which he pities us, his righteousness
which signifies his continual protection and his
truth, by which appears his constant favour, so that
from this our salvation proceeds.
40:12 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 k faileth me.
(k) Concerning the judgment of the flesh, I was utterly
destitute of all counsel, yet faith inwardly moved my
heart to pray.
40:14 Let them be l 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.
(l) He desires that God's mercy may contend for him against
the rage of his enemies.
40:15 Let them be m desolate for a reward of their shame that
say unto me, Aha, aha.
(m) Let the same shame and confusion come on them, which
they intended to have brought on me.
40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee:
let such as love thy salvation say continually, n The
LORD be magnified.
(n) As the faithful always praise God for his benefits, so
the wicked mocked God's children in their afflictions.
