Psalm 40:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

NIV: He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

NASB: He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord.

CSB: He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the Lord.

NLT: He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

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

NKJV: He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.

David was so joyful and appreciative of God's deliverance of him from his enemies that he lifted his voice in a song of praise to the Lord. He shared this praise with his countrymen so that they would reverence the Lord and trust in Him. This "reverence" is the meaning of the term "fear" in passages such as this.

When God delivers sinners from their sin, He draws them out of what seems like a pit (Psalm 40:2). Those who cry to the Lord for salvation and believe on Jesus as Savior are rescued. God gives them a brand–new life (Ephesians 2:4–10; 1 John 3:14). Second Corinthians 5:17 declares that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The Lord not only saves them from the pit of sin but also establishes their steps and gives them a new direction in life. Saul of Tarsus found forgiveness and a new life in Christ (Acts 9). He testified in 1 Timothy 1:15–16 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom he said he was the foremost. But he received mercy in order for Jesus Christ to display His perfect patience as an example to other believers.

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.

Accessed 5/2/2024 12:01:02 PM