Psalms 40

Psalms 40
TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

[Psalms 40:1] I WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD; AND HE INCLINED UNTO ME, AND HEARD MY CRY.

[Psalms 40:2] HE BROUGHT ME UP ALSO OUT OF AN HORRIBLE PIT, OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY, AND SET MY FEET UPON A ROCK, AND ESTABLISHED MY GOINGS.
The Commentary of Mairi says that David composed this Psalm after recovery from illness and salvation from his enemies.
Radak says that the "Pit" symbolizes sicknesses that are like a pit that once you fall into it is difficult to climb out. So too with illness. Often one sickness leads to another.
"PIT": Hebrew "BOR" related to the English, "bore" to make a hole?

[Psalms 40:3] AND HE HATH PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH, EVEN PRAISE UNTO OUR GOD: MANY SHALL SEE IT, AND FEAR, AND SHALL TRUST IN THE LORD.
Wherever you are can come back. God will help you. You can start again. From nothing you can become something. Your enemies and those who held you in contempt can still be astounded. When God has done something exceptionally good for you in which His Divine Providence is clearly evident you should acknowledge it and make it known to others.

[Psalms 40:4] BLESSED IS THAT MAN THAT MAKETH THE LORD HIS TRUST, AND RESPECTETH NOT THE PROUD, NOR SUCH AS TURN ASIDE TO LIES.
Believe in God and not in those who deny Him. "THAT MAN": Hebrew "HaGever" related to the Latin word that gave us the English "govern". "HaGever" in Hebrew connotes "he-man". By trusting in God one becomes a "man", a "hero", someone who stands up for what they believe in and does what they consider to be right despite opposition, the opinions of others, and adversity.
Keep away from spiritualists and the like and treat the "experts" with caution. Trust in God.

[Psalms 40:5] MANY, O LORD MY GOD, ARE THY WONDERFUL WORKS WHICH THOU HAST DONE, AND THY THOUGHTS WHICH ARE TO US-WARD: THEY CANNOT BE RECKONED UP IN ORDER UNTO THEE: IF I WOULD DECLARE AND SPEAK OF THEM, THEY ARE MORE THAN CAN BE NUMBERED.

[Psalms 40:6] SACRIFICE AND OFFERING THOU DIDST NOT DESIRE; MINE EARS HAST THOU OPENED: BURNT OFFERING AND SIN OFFERING HAST THOU NOT REQUIRED.
God wants to be obeyed. God wants you to obey Him for your own sake.
See: " HATH THE LORD AS GREAT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? BEHOLD, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS. "FOR REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT, AND STUBBORNNESS IS AS INIQUITY AND IDOLATRY… [1-Samuel 15:22-23].
It is not that sacrifices were not (or are not) required only that prior to sacrifice must come the willingness to accept the will of the Almighty.

[Psalms 40:7] THEN SAID I, LO, I COME: IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME,

[Psalms 40:8] I DELIGHT TO DO THY WILL, O MY GOD: YEA, THY LAW IS WITHIN MY HEART.

[Psalms 40:9] I HAVE PREACHED RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE GREAT CONGREGATION: LO, I HAVE NOT REFRAINED MY LIPS, O LORD, THOU KNOWEST.

[Psalms 40:10] I HAVE NOT HID THY RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHIN MY HEART; I HAVE DECLARED THY FAITHFULNESS AND THY SALVATION: I HAVE NOT CONCEALED THY LOVINGKINDNESS AND THY TRUTH FROM THE GREAT CONGREGATION.

[Psalms 40:11] WITHHOLD NOT THOU THY TENDER MERCIES FROM ME, O LORD: LET THY LOVINGKINDNESS AND THY TRUTH CONTINUALLY PRESERVE ME.

[Psalms 40:12] FOR INNUMERABLE EVILS HAVE COMPASSED ME ABOUT: MINE INIQUITIES HAVE TAKEN HOLD UPON ME, SO THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO LOOK UP; THEY ARE MORE THAN THE HAIRS OF MINE HEAD: THEREFORE MY HEART FAILETH ME.
David may have committed some outright offences in his life but more than this we are speaking of a terribly sensitive human being. This is a man who was renowned for his music, whose Psalms have given us the most profound verbal expression the human soul has merited to receive. We are also speaking of someone who was a great warrior, who had killed very many enemies in battle, executed numerous offenders sometimes with his own hand and at other times through ordering others. He was a ruling king constantly trying to do that which is right for the good of his subjects whilst uprooting evil. By the very nature of his task he would have had to hurt some in order to help others. There would always be borderline cases he could never be certain about. All human systems are imperfect. One cannot run an army, a school, a family, or even one's own life without causing offence that in some cases may not be justified. We can only attempt to do more good than bad and ask God to help us.

Amongst the Palestinians there are good people.
Nevertheless the Palestinian Arabs will have to leave.
Maybe in the end some will stay but in principle they should all go.
The option of emigration is better for them and better for us.
We can only hope that the minority of good people amongst them will find their own way and that God will take care of them.
If we do not drive them out they will bring misfortune upon us:
" BUT IF YE WILL NOT DRIVE OUT THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND FROM BEFORE YOU; THEN IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT THOSE WHICH YE LET REMAIN OF THEM SHALL BE PRICKS IN YOUR EYES, AND THORNS IN YOUR SIDES, AND SHALL VEX YOU IN THE LAND WHEREIN YE DWELL. "MOREOVER IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT I SHALL DO UNTO YOU, AS I THOUGHT TO DO UNTO THEM [Numbers 33:55-56].

[Psalms 40:13] BE PLEASED, O LORD, TO DELIVER ME: O LORD, MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME.
The Radak points out that no misfortune comes upon a person without sin having caused it. Nevertheless we pray to God not to hold us culpable, to give us a second chance and lead us through the powers of adversity that seek to engulf us.

[Psalms 40:14] LET THEM BE ASHAMED AND CONFOUNDED TOGETHER THAT SEEK AFTER MY SOUL TO DESTROY IT; LET THEM BE DRIVEN BACKWARD AND PUT TO SHAME THAT WISH ME EVIL.

[Psalms 40:15] LET THEM BE DESOLATE FOR A REWARD OF THEIR SHAME THAT SAY UNTO ME, AHA, AHA.

[Psalms 40:16] LET ALL THOSE THAT SEEK THEE REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN THEE: LET SUCH AS LOVE THY SALVATION SAY CONTINUALLY, THE LORD BE MAGNIFIED.

[Psalms 40:17] BUT I AM POOR AND NEEDY; YET THE LORD THINKETH UPON ME: THOU ART MY HELP AND MY DELIVERER; MAKE NO TARRYING, O MY GOD.


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