Bible Commentaries

Psalm 40

Christ the Obedient One and the Fruit of His Work

1. The path of the Obedient One (Psalms 40:1-12)

2. His prayer and His comfort (Psalms 40:13-17)

Psalms 40:1-12. The Fortieth and Forty-first Psalms are Messianic. Our Redeemer and Israel’s Redeemer is blessedly revealed in them both and with the testimony to Him the first book of the Psalms closes. Psalms 40:1-17 begins with what may be termed “Christ’s resurrection song.” He came and went as the sin-bearer into the horrible pit (Hebrew: the pit of destruction) and the miry clay, and the power of God brought Him out, raised Him from the dead, set His feet upon a rock and established His goings (His ascension). A new song is put into His mouth, “even praise unto our God.” It is the song of redemption which He sings first and all who believe on Him join in that song. That is why we read “our God.” The many who shall see it are those who trust in Him who was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification. And who can tell out the wonderful works He has done in redemption; “they are more than can be numbered.” Psalms 40:6-8 are quoted in Hebrews 10:1-39. The ears opened, literally “digged ears,” refers us to Exodus 21:1-36. The New Testament quotes the Septuagint translation, made undoubtedly with the sanction of the Holy Spirit, “a body hast Thou prepared Me.” In Psalms 40:13-17 we hear Him pray as the sin-bearer of His people, as we hear Him say in Psalms 40:12 that the sins He bore are more than the hairs upon His head. The doom of those who reject and despise Him, and the blessing of all who love His salvation are likewise mentioned.