Psalm 40 The Message Verse By Verse

Last Updated on September 22, 2021 by Pastor Ikechukwu Chinedum

Today we will be looking at Psalm 40 the message verse by verse. It’s a psalm with one major theme divided into two parts. Psalm 40 the message verse by verse is a psalm of deliverance first of one that was experienced by the psalmist and then a plea to experience yet another one. Psalm 40 starts first with songs of thanks to God for his past deeds and how he continues to deliver his people time and again. As we go through the meaning of each verse, it would help to build confidence in us about how God can deliver us and rescue us from those who desire to hurt us.

PSALM 40 MEANING VERSE BY VERSE.

Verse 1&2: I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me also out of an horrible pit, out of the more clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

This is the testimony of one who had been through thick and thin, something he describes as a ‘horrible pit and ‘miry clay’. However, all through it he was patient, trusting God to bring him out of it. His life shows that holding on to God patiently eventually pays off. God setting his feet on a rock indicates that God finally elevated him from the downfall that had beset him. Not only that, God established his feet such that he will always be on the rock time and again. It means that we can also trust God to bring us out of the hardest of situations.

Verse 3: And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

He describes his deliverance as a new song. God had taken away his tears and past lamentations; the old stories he was familiar with and had given way for a new story. A new song which will bring all those who hear it to marvel at the works of God and put their trust in him.

Verse 4: Blessed is the man that makes the lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, not such as turn aside to lies.

Having experienced the delivering power of God that comes by trusting him, the psalmist now tells us that a man who does the same will be blessed. He who does not seek false gods or means but trusts in God for deliverance will be happy and enviable.

Verse 5: Many, O Lord my God, are they wonderful works which thou hast done, and they 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.

Here is a reaffirmation of thanks unto God for all his good deeds. The psalmist tells us that both the works and even the thoughts of God towards us are innumerable. And this we know is as a result of his unfailing love towards us; he never gets weary of doing good to us as long as it makes us happy.

Verse 6: Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

More interestingly is the fact that God bestowed all of that goodness upon him without requiring a sacrifice for it. Rather, he gave him an open ear to understand his ways and his will.

Verse 7&8: Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written if me. I delight to do thy will, O my God: yeah, thy law is within my heart.

‘Then’ here shows that the psalmist carried out this action after he had experienced the great deliverance that God gave him. Having had such a great experience, he willingly gave himself in complete surrender to God’s bidding. He found the account of his predestinated mandate and took delight in fulfilling it. This would turn out to be a testimony with which he presented his case to God while seeking for another deliverance. God honours our sacrifices and we can always present it to him in cases where we need his intervention.

Verse 9&10: I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovkingkindness and thy truth from the congregation.

The psalmist was also faithful in preaching about God and his wondrous among the people; in the midst of the congregation continually. He told them about his saving and delivering power and how he had been faithful to him.

Verse 11: Do not thou thy tender mercies from me, O lord: let thy loving kindness as they truth continually preserve me.

This verse represents the beginning of the psalmist plea for deliverance. He had come to God with his sacrifices of praise, declaring his praise, telling of his saving and delivering power. He had found himself in another life’s trouble and he seeks God’s help and salvation. He prays to God to not withhold his mercies from him, rather he should let him experience it continually.

Verse 12: For innumerable evils have compressed 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.

 He had become trapped both by his own iniquities and the wickedness of men. They have become so much so that he has begun to fear and his heart seemed to be failing him.

Verse 13: Be pleased O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.

He calls on God who had deliver him before now to deliver him yet again. This time around he seeks that deliverance quickly, he wants God to come to his aid quickly before he gets overcome by the evils around him.

Verse 14&15: 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. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

This is his desire for his enemies. This is how he wants God to judge them and he does not fail to express it. Destruction, shame and desolation should be their lot for seeking after his life to destroy it.

Verse 16: Let all those that seek there rejoice and be glad in there; let such as live thy salvation say continually, the lord be magnified.

In contrast to his desire over his enemies, the psalmist prays for those who seem and put their hope in God. He prays that they will continually experience his deliverance and safety time and again. This is the lot of as many as seek God even in our generation, he always delivers them from all evil.

Verse 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.

As he concludes, the psalmist once again extols God acknowledging him as his deliverer and appealing to him to come hastily to his rescue.

WHEN DO WE NEED TO USE THIS PSALM?

The psalm above applies our lives both directly and indirectly. We therefore need it;

• When we have experienced God’s deliverance in our lives and we want to acknowledge him.
• When we find ourselves in the web of life’s challenges and we do not know what to do.
• When we want to present the sacrifices of obedience to him in order to get his salvation in our lives.
• When we want God to repay our enemies for their wicked deeds.
• When we desire to surrender ourselves to obedience of God’s will.

PSALM 40 PRAYERS.

If you find yourself in any of the situations mentioned above, then pray the following powerful psalm 40 prayers:

• Lord I thank you because you are my deliverer, ton have done it before and you will do it again. All glory be to you in Jesus name.
• Heavenly father, just like the testimony of the psalmist, I ask that you bring me out if life’s more clay and set my feet upon a rock in Jesus name.
• Father, I ask that you take away the old song of pain and captivity that has become a norm in my life and give me a new song to sing in Jesus name.
• Lord, I surrender myself to do your will. All that you have predestinated for my life, I take delight in them and I freely offer yourself to do them. I therefore ask for your help to do as you have required in Jesus name.
• Father, according to your word, let all who seek after my would to destroy it be put to shame and confounded. Let them be driven backward and put to shame in Jesus name.
• Father, as many as have desired to laugh at me, deliver me from them and prove to them that you are my God in Jesus name.
• Lord, I ask for your mercy over me, make haste to help me and do not let the evil around me to overshadow me in Jesus name.