# Psalm 40 📖: Lifted From the Pit
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#💬 Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#📂 Internal Notes]]
## 📜 Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## For the music director, a psalm of David.
[[#Verse 01.]] I relied completely on the Lord,
and he turned toward me
and heard my cry for help.
[[#Verse 02.]] He lifted me out of the watery pit,
out of the slimy mud.
He placed my feet on a rock
and gave me secure footing.
[[#Verse 03.]] He gave me reason to sing a new song,
praising our God.
May many see what God has done,
so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord.
[[#Verse 04.]] How blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord
and does not seek help from the proud or from liars.
[[#Verse 05.]] O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things;
you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us.
No one can thwart you.
I want to declare your deeds and talk about them,
but they are too numerous to recount.
[[#Verse 06.]] Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern.
You make that quite clear to me.
You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.
[[#Verse 07.]] Then I say,
“Look, I come!
What is written in the scroll pertains to me.
[[#Verse 08.]] I want to do what pleases you, my God.
Your law dominates my thoughts.”
[[#Verse 09.]] I have told the great assembly about your justice.
Look, I spare no words.
O Lord, you know this is true.
[[#Verse 10.]] I have not failed to tell about your justice;
I spoke about your reliability and deliverance.
I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.
[[#Verse 11.]] O Lord, you do not withhold your compassion from me.
May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me!
[[#Verse 12.]] For innumerable dangers surround me.
My sins overtake me
so I am unable to see;
they outnumber the hairs of my head
so my strength fails me.
[[#Verse 13.]] Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me!
O Lord, hurry and help me!
[[#Verse 14.]] May those who are trying to snatch away my life
be totally embarrassed and ashamed.
May those who want to harm me
be turned back and ashamed.
[[#Verse 15.]] May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be humiliated and disgraced.
[[#Verse 16.]] May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you.
May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,
“May the Lord be praised!”
[[#Verse 17.]] I am oppressed and needy. May the Lord pay attention to me. You are my helper and my deliverer. O my God, do not delay.
[[#Verse 17]] I am oppressed and needy.
May the Lord pay attention to me.
You are my helper and my deliverer.
O my God, do not delay.
## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The opening phrase in Hebrew repeats the verb for waiting (*qavoh qivviti*), meaning "I waited and waited" or "I waited intently."
2. The "pit" and "mud" (40:2) picture a cistern, a place sometimes used as a prison (Jeremiah 38:6).
3. Hebrews 10:5-7 quotes 40:6-8 from the Greek Septuagint, which reads "a body You prepared for Me."
4. The Hebrew text of 40:6 says literally "ears You have dug for me," likely meaning God opened David's ears to hear and obey.
5. The "scroll" mentioned in 40:7 likely refers to the written law of God.
6. Psalm 40:13-17 is almost word for word the same as Psalm 70.
7. The psalm moves from thanksgiving (40:1-10) to a fresh plea for help (40:11-17).
8. God's thoughts and plans toward His people are said to be too many to count (40:5).
9. The rock band U2 based their song "40" (1983) on the opening verses of this psalm.
10. The heading attributes Psalm 40 to David and directs it to the music director.
## 🧠 Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who came to do God's will perfectly. Hebrews 10:5-10 applies 40:6-8 to Jesus, whose once-for-all sacrifice of His own body accomplished what animal sacrifices never could.
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## 💬 Discussion Questions
1. David waited patiently for the Lord before God lifted him out of the pit (40:1-2). What is God teaching you in a season of waiting?
2. God put a new song in David's mouth so that many would see and trust the Lord (40:3). How has God used your story to encourage others?
3. God desires an obedient heart more than sacrifice (40:6-8). What does it look like to have God's law in your heart and not just on paper?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- 📖 verses 1-2: David waits on the Lord, who lifts him from the muddy pit and sets his feet on a rock.
- 📖 verse 3: God gives David a new song, and many will see it and trust the Lord.
- 📖 verse 8: David delights to do God's will, and God's law is in his heart.
## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference
- 🔗 [[Hebrews 10#Verse 05.|Hebrews 10:5-10]] - Christ came to do God's will.
- 🔗 [[1 Samuel 15#Verse 22.|1 Samuel 15:22]] - Obedience is better than sacrifice.
- 🔗 [[Psalm 70|Psalm 70]] - A repeat of David's urgent prayer.
- 🔗 [[Isaiah 40#Verse 31.|Isaiah 40:31]] - Those who wait on the Lord renew their strength.
- 🔗 [[Psalm 27#Verse 14.|Psalm 27:14]] - Wait on the Lord and be strong.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[Psalm 40- SOAP|The Lord Always Has a Plan]]
## 📂 Internal Notes