Video from Life is very short

David ascribes to God all credit for helping him and delivering him in the past. He asks the Lord to come to his assistance quickly. While David was wildly successful, he was also humble enough to admit his need for God (Psalm 40:11–13). Rather than claim he deserves God's favor (Luke 18:9–14), he describes the Lord as his help and deliverer. We do not know what specific situation David had in mind when he wrote this psalm. We do know he trusted the Lord to resolve it.

We are also reminded that David had a personal relationship with the Lord, because he addressed him as "my God." The Lord certainly knows all about every challenging situation a believer faces; no situation is too hard for God to resolve. He will either end the situation (2 Corinthians 5:6–8) or grant His all-sufficient grace so the believer can bear it (Philippians 4:12–13). The apostle Paul asked the Lord three times to remove his thorn in the flesh, which was perhaps a severe physical ailment. But the Lord replied, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Context Summary
Psalm 40:11–17 follows a passage focused mainly on David's thanksgiving for the Lord's past blessings. This section features his requests to God, based on the Lord's love and faithfulness. He asks the Lord to forgive his sins, rescue him from his enemies, and to fill God's people with praise when they recognize how David has been delivered. Psalm 38 contains similar themes to those of these closing verses of Psalm 40.


Chapter Summary
David waited on the Lord for quite some time to be delivered from his foes, and the Lord heard him. This remarkable deliverance would persuade many to trust in the Lord. David insists that no one can compare with the Lord. Verses 6–8 are messianic; Hebrews 10:5–9 applies them to Jesus. David shared this story with his fellow worshipers in the sanctuary. He was confident that the Lord would continue to show him His mercy, His steadfast love, and His faithfulness. David needed the Lord's help because he was conscious of his many sins, and he knew his enemies wanted to kill him. He concludes this psalm by humble acknowledging that the Lord thought about him and was his help and deliverer. He asks the Lord to come quickly to his defense.