Psalm 40:1-11 (ESV)
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
[2] He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
[3] 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.
[4] Blessed is the man who makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
[5] You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
[6] Sacrifice and offering you have not desired,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
[7] Then I said, "Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
[8] I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
[9] I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
[10] I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
[11] As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
Questions for Reflection
- When do you hate to wait?
- What mental picture did David use to describe God’s deliverance in the past? (40:1-2)
- For what did David praise the Lord in the introduction of the psalm? (40:1-5)
- What did David’s experience of God’s help in the past motivate him to do? (40:3)
- How should we respond to God’s deliverance? (40:3)
- What specific instructions does the psalm give to God’s people? (40:4)
- What does God want from us even more than sacrifices and offerings? (40:6-7)
- What was David’s main desire? (40:8)
- How did David equip himself to do God’s will? (40:8)
- What are the dangers of letting church attendance become overly routine or perfunctory?
- How can we guard against the temptation to focus more on outward appearances than inward attitudes?
- What does remembering God’s faithfulness in the past prompt you to do?
