A broad shelf of pale solid limestone standing up out of a valley floor of wet gray clay, morning light on the dry rock, the sky above calm and empty.

Thanksgiving · David

Psalm 40

Waiting on God in a hole with no way out? David’s song starts there, and it ends with him needing God again.

17 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'Psalm 40
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

I Waited Patiently for the LORD

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

I waited patiently for the LORD;

He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Looking up from the floor of a deep cistern: thick wet gray mud in the foreground, sheer rough walls, and far above a small ragged circle of daylight.

He lifted me up from the pit of despair,

out of the miry clay;

He set my feet upon a rock,

and made my footsteps firm.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the LORD.

0:16

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Blessed is the man

who has made the LORD his trust,

who has not turned to the proud,

nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Many, O LORD my God,

are the wonders You have done,

and the plans You have for us—

none can compare to You—

if I proclaim and declare them,

they are more than I can count.

Reflect

Who should hear it?

Name one wonder in your own life that you’ve told no one about. Who should hear it?

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;

behold, I do not seal my lips,

as You, O LORD, do know.

I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart;

I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation;

I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness

from the great assembly.

A brown wall of dust coming up behind a lone walker on a bare road, swallowing the hills, seen from behind and far off.

O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me;

Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.

For evils without number surround me;

my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my heart has failed within me.

Question

Quick question

The New Testament picks up the words of verse 7.

Hebrews 10 places “Here I am, I have come” on whose lips?

May those who seek my life

be ashamed and confounded;

may those who wish me harm

be repelled and humiliated.

May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

be appalled at their own shame.

May all who seek You

rejoice and be glad in You;

may those who love Your salvation

always say, “The LORD be magnified!”

But I am poor and needy;

may the Lord think of me.

You are my helper and deliverer;

O my God, do not delay.

The order of it

Whiteboard

He ends where he began, waiting. The rescue in verse 2 is why he dares to ask.

Pray

The last rescue, and this one

Thank God for the last time He lifted you out. Then tell Him honestly about the trouble you are in now, and pray: “O my God, do not delay.”

You’ve experienced

Psalm 40

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1

or swipe left