Psalm 40:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

NIV: For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

NASB: I waited patiently for the Lord; And He reached down to me and heard my cry.

CSB: I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.

NLT: I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.

KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

NKJV: {To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.} I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.

David recalls that he waited patiently for the Lord to answer his urgent prayer. The Hebrew construction here uses the same root word twice, with different tenses. This most literally means something like "waited, waited," or "I waited to wait." This technique indicates David's perseverance in prayer for the Lord to answer.

The second phrase in this verse also includes a turn of phrase. The Hebrew root word natah implies something turning or bending. In a poetic image, God is "leaning forward" to hear David, the way a person might do for a child who speaks quietly. The Lord heard David's urgent prayer.

Believers are admonished in the New Testament to keep praying without giving up. Jesus told His disciples a parable showing they should always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). The parable involved a widow who kept coming to a judge to ask for justice against her adversary (Luke 18:2–3). The judge was neither godly or caring, but he grew tired of the widow's persistent asking for justice, so he granted her request (Luke 18:4–5). Jesus asked in verse 7, "And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?" Certainly, God will answer the urgent prayers of His people, therefore we should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Psalm 40:1–10 delivers a steady stream of thanksgiving, as David recounts the Lord's deliverance of him from his enemies. He is grateful for giving him a new lease on life. He commits himself to doing the Lord's will and to telling others about how the Lord delivered him from his enemies. Psalm 37:1–7 emphasizes the fact that the Lord delivers those who wait on Him and commit themselves to His will. Hebrews 10:5–9 quotes the Greek version of Psalm 40:6–8 and applies the passage to Jesus the Messiah.

David waited on the Lord for quite some time to be delivered from his foes, and the Lord heard him. This remarkable deliverance would persuade many to trust in the Lord. David insists that no one can compare with the Lord. Verses 6–8 are messianic; Hebrews 10:5–9 applies them to Jesus. David shared this story with his fellow worshipers in the sanctuary. He was confident that the Lord would continue to show him His mercy, His steadfast love, and His faithfulness. David needed the Lord's help because he was conscious of his many sins, and he knew his enemies wanted to kill him. He concludes this psalm by humble acknowledging that the Lord thought about him and was his help and deliverer. He asks the Lord to come quickly to his defense.

In this psalm David offers praise to the Lord for meeting his needs. He may have composed this psalm during one of his exiles in the wilderness or during the infancy of his rule as Israel's king. Verses 1–5 may refer to his exile, and verses 6–10 may depict his dedication as king. Verses 11–17 tell of his prayer for forgiveness and his exaltation over his foes. Psalm 70 parallels Psalm 40:13–17. Hebrews 10:5–9 quotes Psalm 40:6–8, making the latter passage messianic.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.