Psalm 40:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!

NIV: Be pleased to save me, LORD; come quickly, LORD, to help me.

NASB: Be pleased, Lord, to rescue me; Hurry, Lord, to help me.

CSB: Lord, be pleased to rescue me; hurry to help me, Lord.

NLT: Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.

KJV: Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

NKJV: Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!

David cries out to God not only to save him, but to do so quickly. This has a dual meaning: David acknowledged his need for forgiveness of sins (Psalm 40:12), as well as the physical dangers he often faced (Psalm 3:1–2; 17:8–9). David was keenly aware of how much he needed the Lord. For all his success, he knew he could not overcome either sin or worldly enemies through his own strength.

Samson, a judge of Israel, should have humbly submitted to the fact that the Lord was the source of his strength. Yet, when the Philistines were ready to capture him, he depended on his past record of victories for victory. He was mistaken. He boasted: "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free" (Judges 16:20). However, Samson's pride and sin had caused God to withdraw His protective power. Arrogance leads to defeat, whereas confidence in the Lord leads to victory. Proverbs 16:18 warns, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." No wonder the apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to draw his strength from the grace that is in the Lord (2 Timothy 2:1).

Psalm 40:11–17 follows a passage focused mainly on David's thanksgiving for the Lord's past blessings. This section features his requests to God, based on the Lord's love and faithfulness. He asks the Lord to forgive his sins, rescue him from his enemies, and to fill God's people with praise when they recognize how David has been delivered. Psalm 38 contains similar themes to those of these closing verses of Psalm 40.

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.