Psalms 40: He Put a New Song — ReidOne Bible Study

Psalms 40 (WEB)

1 I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.

4 Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll.

8 I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”

9 I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.

10 I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.

11 Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.

12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me.

13 Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, Yahweh.

14 Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.

15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!”

16 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let Yahweh be exalted!”

17 But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.

Psalms 40 (KJV)

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

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.

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.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

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.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.

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.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

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.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.

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.

15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

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.

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.

Psalms 40 (ASV)

1 I waited patiently for Jehovah; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

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 Jehovah.

4 Blessed is the man that maketh Jehovah his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward: They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in; Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required.

7 Then said I, Lo, I am come; In the roll of the book it is written of me:

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God; Yea, thy law is within my heart.

9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest.

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 assembly.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Jehovah; Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about; Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; And my heart hath failed me.

13 Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me: Make haste to help me, O Jehovah.

14 Let them be put to shame and confounded together That seek after my soul to destroy it: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.

15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame That say unto me, Aha, aha.

16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: Let such as love thy salvation say continually, Jehovah be magnified.

17 But I am poor and needy; Yetthe Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God.

Summary

This psalm moves from grateful testimony to fresh petition. David begins by remembering how he waited patiently for the Lord, who turned to him, heard his cry, and brought him up out of a horrible pit and the miry clay, setting his feet on a rock and putting a new song of praise in his mouth. He marvels that God's wonderful works and thoughts toward his people are too many to number. Then comes a striking confession: sacrifice and offering God did not desire, but God has opened his ears; so David says, "Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll. I delight to do your will, my God." The book of Hebrews applies these very words to Christ, who came to do the Father's will and offer the one sacrifice that animal offerings only foreshadowed. David has not hidden God's righteousness but proclaimed it in the great assembly. Yet the psalm turns abruptly to lament: innumerable evils surround him, his own iniquities overtake him, and he begs the Lord to hurry and deliver him. It ends with the honest cry of one who is poor and needy but confident: "You are my help and my deliverer. Don't delay, my God." Gratitude and need live side by side in the believing heart.

Voices

David — The rescued worshiper who sings a new song, delights to do God's will, and yet still cries for fresh help.
Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who lifts from the pit, gives a new song, and remains David's help and deliverer.
Christ in the psalm — The one of whom Hebrews says, 'I have come... I delight to do your will,' offering the obedience that sacrifices foreshadowed.
The surrounding adversaries — Those who seek David's soul and delight in his hurt, from whom he prays to be delivered.

Key Verse

Psalm 40:8 (WEB)

I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”

Lessons Learned

God lifts his people out of the pit and gives them a new song of praise.
Patient waiting on the Lord is rewarded with rescue in his time.
God desires willing obedience from the heart more than mere ritual sacrifice.
Gratitude for past deliverance and prayer for present need can coexist in one faithful heart.

Waiting is not wasted. "I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1, WEB). Patient trust positions us to receive God's rescue in his timing.
God replaces despair with a new song. "He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God" (Psalm 40:3, WEB). Deliverance is not just rescue but a fresh ability to worship.
Obedience pleases God more than ritual. "Sacrifice and offering you didn't desire. You have opened my ears" (Psalm 40:6, WEB). God wants hearts that hear and obey, not empty religious motions.
Delighting in God's will is the heart of faith. "I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8, WEB)—words Hebrews puts on the lips of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled them.
Testimony and need go together. "But I am poor and needy... You are my help and my deliverer" (Psalm 40:17, WEB). Yesterday's rescue gives confidence to cry for today's.

What images does David use for his rescue in verses 1-3, and what is the result?
Why does God say he did not desire sacrifice and offering (verse 6)?
What does it mean to "delight to do your will," and how does Hebrews link this to Christ?
How does the psalm hold together praise for past rescue and pleading for present trouble?
What 'new song' has God given you, and where do you still need him to 'not delay'?

David pictures a horrible pit and miry clay, then feet set on a rock and a firm place to stand (40:1-2). The result is a new song of praise and others seeing it and trusting the Lord (40:3). Rescue overflows: it restores the rescued one and draws others to faith.
God did not desire sacrifice as an end in itself; he wanted opened ears—obedient, listening hearts (40:6). Ritual without devotion is hollow. The verse anticipates the prophets' insistence that God prefers mercy and obedience to mere offerings.
To delight in God's will is to find joy in obedience, with his law written on the heart (40:8). Hebrews 10 applies these words to Christ, who came to do the Father's will and offered the one true sacrifice. David's longing is perfectly fulfilled in Jesus.
The psalm celebrates a past deliverance from the pit, then turns to present troubles that surround David (40:1-3, 12-17). This is honest faith: remembering God's faithfulness does not erase current need. Past grace becomes the ground for fresh, confident pleading.
This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name a 'new song'—a deliverance worth thanking God for—and also an ongoing trouble where they need him to act. As leader, affirm that gratitude and need belong together, and that the God who lifted them before remains their help and deliverer.