Psalm 40:1-17
For the choir director.
A Psalm of David.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
[2] He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay;
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
[3] And 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.
[4] How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
[5] Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done,
And Thy thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with Thee;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.
[6] Sacrifice and meal offering Thou hast not desired;
My ears Thou hast opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering Thou hast not required.
[7] Then I said, "Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me;
[8] I delight to do Thy will, O my God;
Thy Law is within my heart."
[9] I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
O Lord, Thou knowest.
[10] I have not hidden Thy righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation;
I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation.
[11] Thou, O Lord, wilt not withhold Thy compassion from me;
Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth will continually preserve me.
[12] For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head;
And my heart has failed me.
[13] Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
Make haste, O Lord, to help me.
[14] Let those be ashamed and humiliated together
Who seek my life to destroy it?
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight in my hurt.
[15] Let those be appalled because of their shame
Who say to me, "Aha, aha!"
[16] Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee;
Let those who love Thy salvation say continually, "The Lord be magnified!"
[17] Since I am afflicted and needy,
Let the Lord be mindful of me;
Thou art my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.
Psalm 40
Open It
For the choir director.
A Psalm of David.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
[2] He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay;
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
[3] And 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.
[4] How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
[5] Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done,
And Thy thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with Thee;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.
[6] Sacrifice and meal offering Thou hast not desired;
My ears Thou hast opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering Thou hast not required.
[7] Then I said, "Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me;
[8] I delight to do Thy will, O my God;
Thy Law is within my heart."
[9] I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
O Lord, Thou knowest.
[10] I have not hidden Thy righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation;
I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation.
[11] Thou, O Lord, wilt not withhold Thy compassion from me;
Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth will continually preserve me.
[12] For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head;
And my heart has failed me.
[13] Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
Make haste, O Lord, to help me.
[14] Let those be ashamed and humiliated together
Who seek my life to destroy it?
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight in my hurt.
[15] Let those be appalled because of their shame
Who say to me, "Aha, aha!"
[16] Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee;
Let those who love Thy salvation say continually, "The Lord be magnified!"
[17] Since I am afflicted and needy,
Let the Lord be mindful of me;
Thou art my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.
Psalm 40
Open It
1. What, to you, is the most vivid example of hypocrisy?
* 2. When do you hate to wait?
Explore It
3. What mental picture did David use to describe God’s deliverance in the past? (40:1-2)
4. For what did David praise the Lord in the introduction of the psalm? (40:1-5)
5. What is the main theme of this psalm? (40:1-17)
6. What did David’s experience of God’s help in the past motivate him to do? (40:3)
7. How should we respond to God’s deliverance? (40:3)
8. What specific instructions does the psalm give to God’s people? (40:4)
9. In what way did David feel inadequate? (40:5)
* 10. What does God want from us even more than sacrifices and offerings? (40:6-7)
* 11. What testimony did David give about his own relationship with the Lord? (40:6-10)
12. What was David’s main desire? (40:8)
* 13. How did David equip himself to do God’s will? (40:8)
14. How was David involved in proclaiming God’s goodness to others? (40:9-10)
15. What was David’s request? (40:11-17)
16. What did David believe to be the cause of his distress? (40:12)
17. How was David’s difficult situation worsened? (40:14-15)
18. What did David ask the Lord to do to his enemies? (40:14-15)
19. How did David ask the Lord to treat those who seek Him? (40:16)
Get It
20. What are the dangers of letting church attendance become overly routine or perfunctory?
* 21. How can we guard against the temptation to focus more on outward appearances than inward attitudes?
22. What does remembering God’s faithfulness in the past prompt you to do?
23. What would be our modern-day equivalent to the sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament?
24. What does God really want from us?
25. How can we guard against an insincere attitude and hypocrisy?
* 26. How can you equip yourself to do the Lord’s will?
27. How can we store God’s Word in our hearts?
28. How can you be involved in telling others about God’s goodness?
* 29. What can you do to share your experience of God’s faithfulness with those who do not know the Lord?
Apply It
* 30. What steps can you take this next week to store God’s Word in your heart?
31. What offering of praise can you give to God today?
32. In the next few days, who is one person you could tell about God’s faithfulness to you?
AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM:
Waiting patiently on the Lord.
Singing a new song, a song of praise.
Blessed because I have made the Lord my trust.
Proclaiming glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation.
Not hiding Your righteousness within my heart.
Speaking of Your faithfulness and Your salvation.
Not concealing Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.
Saying continually, The Lord be magnified.
