Psalms 40

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

The author, as the title imports, is undoubtedly David. He is not now a fugitive from Saul; for the indications of age and public headship of the nation, Psalms 40:9-10, point to a later date. The fact that Psalms 70:0 is, with some variations, identical with Psalms 40:13-17, does not invalidate the greater age of this. Its strong resemblance to Psalms 69:0, is very noticeable, but internal evidence would assign them distinct dates. The psalm, though belonging to one occasion, is of very variable style and tone, which may account for its irregular strophes and unequal lines. It consists of two parts: in the first, (Psalms 40:1-10,) the spirit of joyful praise, with a self-sustaining consciousness of justification, prevail. In the second, (Psalms 40:11-17,) a dirge-like complaint of evils, with confession of sin, and prayer, predominate. The first division may be subdivided into four strophes; Psalms 40:1-3, a reminiscence of the great mercy of God in his signal spiritual and physical deliverances; Psalms 40:4-5, praise to God for his manifold works; Psalms 40:6-8, historically define the principle on which David found mercy and forgiveness, namely, not through sacrifice, but by an inward contrition (Psalms 51:16-17) and a hearty embrace of the will of God; Psalms 40:9-10, set forth his faithful declaration of the divine righteousness (implying his own sinfulness) before the great congregation, and thus give the glory to God. Prophetically this strophe is Messianic. The second division contains three strophes; Psalms 40:11-12, a complaint of unnumbered evils in consequence of his sins, and a prayer for deliverance; Psalms 40:13-15, a prayer against his enemies; Psalms 40:16-17, a prayer for the triumph of the righteous, and instant help for himself, with confession of his trust in the special care of God.

If we date the psalm the same as Psalms 32:0, after David’s pardon and restoration, the first division given above fitly coincides. If we consider his numerous enemies who had taken occasion of his sickness to menace the peace of his kingdom, and even plot the subversion of his throne, together with the fact that his foreign wars were not yet ended, (Joab was still in the siege of Rabbath Ammon, 2 Samuel 12:26, and a reaction of his foreign victories might yet bring an invasion of David’s own kingdom,) we shall find sufficient cause for the complaint and prayer beginning with Psalms 40:11. The psalm, as already noticed, is highly Messianic; for evidence of which see notes.