PSALM 40 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm is a celebration of God's great
goodness and mercy vouchsafed unto him and all his people. It is
certain and evident that David speaks some things in this Book of
Psalms in his own name and person, and some things ill the name and
person of Christ, or whom he was an... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAITED PATIENTLY, Heb. _in waiting I waited_; which doubling of the
word notes that he waited diligently and earnestly, patiently and
perseveringly, until God should please to help him. _He inclined_, or,
_bowed_, to wit, _himself_, as this very word is rendered, JUDGES
16:30; or, _his ear_, as it... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH; partly by giving me new matter or
occasion for a song; and partly by inspiring me with the very words of
it. SHALL SEE IT, i.e. shall observe God's wonderful mercies
vouchsafed to me. AND FEAR, i.e. shall stand in awe of that God, who
by this instance they see to... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS TRUST, i.e. his only trust or refuge, as appears from the
following words: q.d. I said, many _shall trust in the Lord_; and they
shall not be losers by it, nor disappointed of their hope, but they
are and shall be blessed. RESPECTETH NOT. Heb. _looketh not towards_,
to wit, with love and delight... [ Continue Reading ]
THY WONDERFUL WORKS; for which I and the rest of thy people, included
in the pronoun plural us, have abundant cause to praise thee, and to
trust in thee, as was said, PSALMS 40:3; and by which it will appear
that he that trusteth in thee is in a most blessed and safe condition,
as he said, PSALMS 40... [ Continue Reading ]
These words may in an improper sense belong to the person and time of
David; when God might be said not to _desire or require_ legal
sacrifices comparatively, as negative expressions are frequently
understood, as MATTHEW 9:13 1 CORINTHIANS 1:17, and in this very case
of sacrifices, as PSALMS 51:16 J... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN, when I understood and considered thy mind and will therein,
expressed PSALMS 40:6. SAID I; either within myself, by a firm
purpose; or unto thee by way of promise or engagement. LO, I COME. He
may seem to speak like a servant, answering to the call of his master,
and signifying his readiness t... [ Continue Reading ]
I DELIGHT TO DO THY WILL. This, though in a general sense it may be
true of David and of all God's people, yet if it be compared with the
foregoing verse, and with the explication thereof in the New
Testament, (in which those mysteries which were darkly and doubtfully
expressed in the Old Testament... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHTEOUSNESS, to wit, _thy righteousness_, as it is expressed in the
next verse, i.e. thy faithfulness, as it is there explained; or
righteousness properly so called; for both were fully declared and
demonstrated in Christ, the former in sending him into the world
according to his promise, ACTS 13:... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE NOT HID THY RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHIN MY HEART; I had it there,
PSALMS 40:8, but I did not smother or shut it up there, but spread it
abroad for thy glory, and the good of the world; which thou hast
wrought both for me and by me.... [ Continue Reading ]
This prayer is uttered by David, either,
1. In the person of Christ; to whom it may agree. Or,
2. In his own person. Having been transported and carried forth by the
Spirit of God to the contemplation and commemoration of the great
mystery of the Messias, of whom he was an illustrious type, now he... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE INIQUITIES; either,
1. The punishment of mine iniquities, as GENESIS 4:13 1 SAMUEL 28:10
PSALMS 31:10. Or,
2. The iniquities themselves. This phrase cannot be understood of
Christ. For although our sins are said to be _laid upon Christ_, ISA
53, and upon that account he is said to be made sin... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME FROM MY SINS, and the punishments due to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE ASHAMED, for the disappointment of their hopes and
designs. MY SOUL, i.e. my life, as EXODUS 4:9 1 SAMUEL 20:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
DESOLATE, or _amazed_, or _dismayed_, or _overthrown_: of such
imprecations I have spoken before. THEIR SHAME, i.e. their sinful and
shameful actions, as _shame_ is put for a shameful idol, HOSEA 9:10,
and as fear is oft put for the evil feared.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCH AS LOVE THY SALVATION; either,
1. Such as desire and rejoice in the salvation and deliverance which
thou givest to me and to others of thy people, which was a great
eye-sore and grief to the wicked. Or,
2. Such as expect and seek for their salvation and happiness not from
idols, nor from thei... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 17. No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]