Psalm 40 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
Psalm 40 Short Summary:
The words of Psalm 40 were true of David but even more true of the Messiah. David begins the psalm thanking God for delivering him from a trial. He goes on to publicize God’s goodness and encourage his countrymen to trust in God. In Psalm 40:6-8, David spoke prophetically about Jesus, the one who had ultimate trust in God and who publicized “glad news” to the entire world.
Psalm 40 Summary
AUTHOR:
Psalm 40 was authored by David.
NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:
Hebrews 10:5-9
THEMES:
God’s salvation is hope for those in trials.
The “glad news” of God’s deliverance is worth publicizing.
Mankind’s Savior was coming to share ultimate good news, the gospel.
DEFINITIONS:
Scroll of the Book – This refers to God’s history and law for the Israelite people recorded in Genesis through Deuteronomy.
OUTLINE:
GOD SAVES DAVID (40:1-3):
David opens Psalm 40 recounting a time when he put his trust in the Lord and the Lord saved him from trouble.
In David’s words, God drew him out “from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog,” and secured his footing on a rock.
He gave David a new song, a song of praise, and David sang about his deliverance so others would put their trust in God.
DAVID PROMOTES TRUST IN GOD AMONGST HIS COUNTRYMEN (40:4-10):
David wrote, “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust” (40:4).
What did it mean to trust in the Lord?
Trust in God is more than just external actions. God wanted His people to trust Him, to give Him their hearts, not just their sacrifices. He wanted their love, not just their participation in His ceremonies.
David spoke of himself as an example of the godly man described in God’s law, the man who had the law of God on his heart (Deuteronomy 6:6).
He wrote, “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (40:8).
David delighted in God internally and externally.
He told everyone he could about God’s amazing deeds, how God had saved him, about God’s faithfulness, and His love.
He wanted everyone to give their heart to God like he had.
DAVID PRAYS FOR A CONSTANT SUPPLY OF GOD’S GRACE (40:11-17):
God had saved David from one trial (40:1-3), but David had other trials, and he knew He would need more of God’s mercy in the future.
He still had enemies and he still had sins, and he finished this psalm with a request for God’s continued help.
He also prayed for those who shared his trust in God. He asked God to give them joy and gladness as they relied on Him through their own personal trials.
UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE:
As we’ve discussed in previous psalms, some psalms have dual prophetic meanings. This is true of a portion of Psalm 40.
Psa 40:6-8 - In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
The writer of the Book of Hebrews takes these words of David and applies them to Jesus.
Hebrews 10:1-18 is a discussion about animal sacrifices, and how animal sacrifices couldn’t take away the sins of the world, Jesus’ blood was required to do that.
Jesus was prophesied in the “book” (the Old Testament writings; Deut 18:15-18). His coming was foretold through the writers who were inspired by God’s Spirit.
He delighted to do the will of God by giving Himself to die on the cross.
God’s ultimate plan was not for animal sacrifices to continue forever, His delight/desire was not for the continuation of those religious ceremonies, His desire was for Jesus to make the ultimate sacrifice and die once-for-all.
David, although I don’t think he knew it, was prophetically writing about a greater man than himself who would come to do God’s will and proclaim “glad news” (40:9; “gospel” = good news) to all men.
