Psalm 40:1-10 – Recalling God’s goodness

Psalm 40 is another of David’s Psalm composed for the choir director. Verses 4-6 of this Psalm were quoted in Hebrews 10:5-7 to refer to the Messiah, making this portion messianic in orientation. It is also noteworthy that verses 13-17 appear almost verbatim in Psalm 70. In Psalm 40, we shall see David recalling God’s deliverance in the past and praised Him. He then turned to pray for His deliverance for what he was confronted with at that moment.

This Psalm neatly divides itself into two portions. Verses 1-10 contain David’s praise to God for His help in the past. Verses 11-17 detail David’s call for help from God for his existing situation. It encourages us to keep a record of the way God had delivered us from our past sticky situations. A collage of God’s faithful dealings in our past can be a timely reminder to us of His reliability in our future difficult encounters.

Verses 1-5 declare God’s goodness. David remembered God answering his cry for help as he waited patiently for Him. God did not fail him but intervened and delivered him from the sticky pit of destruction. Those timely interventions inspired David to release a new song to Him. He sang the song of God’s redemption. And David was sure that this act of God would inspire people to trust the Lord, especially those who have seen the awesome wonders of God’s deliverance in his life. David assured those who place their trust in God, and not in idols or unreliable people who speak falsehood, that they would truly be God’s joyful blessed people. Recalling God’s timely and marvelous interventions for him and his people, left David in great awe and wonder. He couldn’t even number the countless times the Almighty had shown goodness to him and his people.

So David described his response to this awesome God. And as he considered and contemplated, showing his gratitude to God through thanksgiving, sacrifices, and offerings prescribed in the law, it dawned upon him that there’s only one true worthy sacrifice to give to our all deserving God. It is the sacrifice of the will. It is to obey Him at all costs. God is interested in the genuine and honest yielding of our life to Him. He has no delight in any outward form, devoid of any inward reality. Here David presented himself totally to the Lord and acted obediently to accomplish the will of God as He had directed. David shows us here that right living is better than right rituals.

While verses 4-6 described David’s response to God, the author of the letter to the Hebrews applied them to Christ. It underscores God’s desire for obedience rather than sacrifice. The prescription of the Law regarding sacrifices and offerings could only cover the guilt of sin, but not take them away. But what God wants is to totally remove the guilt and condemnation sin brought into our life. The Law in this sense was inadequate. So Christ became God’s vessel to execute that plan. In obedience to God’s will, He took on the body the Father had prepared for Him. And in total abandonment, He came as the Incarnate Son and obediently died for sinful humanity. He became God’s atoning sacrifice for mankind once and for all. What He did, not only just cover the guilt of sin, but completely remove it from those who accept and trust in Him. This willing obedience of Christ to do God’s will, leaves us an example to walk in His steps. This is what total obedience and willing surrender looks like.  

Totally surrendered, David then declared how wonderful God truly is. Refusing to keep quiet, David like an unstoppable fountain declared the glad tidings of God. We can just imagine David saying all these: God is truly and undeniably righteous, faithful, gracious, loving, kind, merciful and also so full of truth. Praising God and being obedient to Him are two facets of Christian devotion that will surely please God.

Do we have records of past positive interventions of God on our behalf? We should keep one, as it will help us to be aware of God’s goodness and His availability in our future difficult encounters. More than that, these verses constitute a call from God, through David, to re-dedicate our lives to Him. God wants our obedience, our total surrender more than all the outward show of any devotion, devoid of truth and willingness. Remember, the blessed man is one in whose spirit there is no guile. We can never hide anything from God, we must come to Him truthfully, honestly and willingly. Let’s do it!