Book of Psalms Psalm 40

Transcription

1 Book of Psalms Psalm 40 A Christmas Psalm Many facts about Jesus and His coming to earth were predicted in the Book of Psalms. After His resurrection Jesus made this profound statement in Luke 24: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, PSALM PREDICTION N.T. FULFILLMENT 2:7 God announces Christ to be His Son Matt. 3:17; Acts 13:33 8:2 Children praise Him Matt. 21: :6 All things are put under His feet Heb. 2:8 16:10 He is raised from the dead Acts 13:35 22:1 He is forsaken by God Matt. 27:46 22:7-8 He is mocked by enemies Luke 23:35 22:16 His hands and feet are pierced John 20:25, 27 22:18 Others cast lots for His clothes Matt. 27:35 34:20 His bones are not broken John 19:32-33, 36 35:11 He is accused by false witnesses Mark 14:57 35:19 He is hated without cause John 15:25 40:6-8 He comes to do God s will Heb. 10:7 41:9 He is betrayed by a friend Luke 22:47 45:6 He is the eternal King Heb. 1:8 68:18 He ascends to heaven Acts 1:9-11; Eph. 4:8 69:9 He is zealous for God s house John 2:17 69:21 He is offered vinegar and gall to drink Matt. 27:34 109:4 He prays for His enemies Luke 23:34 109:8 His betrayer is replaced Acts 1:20 110:1 He rules over His enemies Matt. 22: :4 He is a priest forever like Melchizedek Heb. 5:6 118:22 He is the chief cornerstone Matt. 21:42 118:26 He comes in the name of the Lord Matt. 21:9 Psalm 40 is a psalm of David and it is obviously a Messianic psalm because verses 6-8 are applied to Christ in Hebrews 10:5-7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Psalm 40:13-17 may be considered as a psalm within a psalm because these verses are also found in Psalm 70 almost word for word. 1. David s praise for past help (vs. 1-10) A. God s goodness to David (vs. 1-3) David waited patiently (vs. 1), meaning that he waited expectantly that God would do something. An alternate title for

2 Psalm 40 is From the Mire to the Choir. David s horrible pit may have been a pit of rejection, a pit of family problems, a pit of sin, or a pit of loneliness. David simply could not get out on his own, so God mercifully intervened, rescued him, and gave him a firm place to stand. B. God s goodness to all who trust in the Lord (vs. 4) See Psalm 34:8; 71:5; Prov. 3:5-6. C. God s goodness to Israel (vs. 5) Wonderful works refer to God s amazing works on behalf of His people. Psalms 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. David rejoiced in God s works and His thoughts on his behalf (see also Ps. 139:17-18). D. David sacrificed his will to God (vs. 6-8) God opened David s ears. This means that He taught him obedience and dedication. He taught him that there is a better sacrifice than the sacrifice of animals. It is the sacrifice of an obedient will (compare to Isa. 48:8 where God describes a disobedient people). So David approached God not with an animal sacrifice, but with himself as a living sacrifice. Lo, I come (vs. 7) may be translated Here am I. Doing God s will from the heart was not a burden, but a delight. God is not pleased with sacrifices given by someone whose heart is insincere. Sacrifice without obedience is actually a mockery to God. 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, 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. Psalms 51: For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. The writer of Hebrews 10:5-7 quotes these verses and applies them to Christ as having a conversation with God the Father. E. David proclaimed the attributes of God (vs. 9-10) David was not able to keep silent about God s righteousness, faithfulness, salvation, loving-kindness, and truth. 2. David s prayer for present help (vs ) A. David s prayer was based on God s attributes (vs. 11) In verse 10, David praises God for His loving-kindness and truth, and in verse 11, he asks God to bless his life with those same attributes. It is one thing to know the truth about God; it is another to call upon God to manifest Himself and make us godly. B. David s prayer was prompted by new troubles (vs. 12) David understood this was self-inflicted trouble. He was suffering problems as a result of his sin. C. David s prayer was urgent (vs. 13, 17) He knew that God was his only hope. D. David s prayer was against his enemies (vs ) David asked the Lord to judge those who wanted to hurt him. E. David s prayer was for other believers (vs. 16)

3 Verses 6-8 reflect the real spirit of Christmas, the same attitude Jesus had when He entered the world. This attitude motivated Him all the way to the cross (Phil. 2:5-8). Jesus submitted Himself to the Father s will to accomplish our redemption. Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Notice the slight difference in Psalms 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required, and Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. God s will required that Jesus take on a human body, so He could die for our sins. All of human history revolves around two people Adam and Christ (the last Adam). Adam sinned when he placed his desires above God s will. As a result the whole human race was plunged into sin and condemnation. Jesus came to do God s will and provide eternal redemption. To accomplish that purpose He became a man and died for our sins. The first Adam said to God Not thy will, but mine be done. But Jesus said, Not my will, but thine be done. Our personal salvation hinges on doing God s will from the heart. We must repent of our sins and receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

4 Book of Psalms Psalm 40 A Christmas Psalm Many facts about Jesus and His coming to earth were predicted in the Book of Psalms. After His resurrection Jesus made this profound statement in Luke 24: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, PSALM PREDICTION N.T. FULFILLMENT 2:7 God announces Christ to be His Son Matt. 3:17; Acts 13:33 8:2 Children praise Him Matt. 21: :6 All things are put under His feet Heb. 2:8 16:10 He is raised from the dead Acts 13:35 22:1 He is forsaken by God Matt. 27:46 22:7-8 He is mocked by enemies Luke 23:35 22:16 His hands and feet are pierced John 20:25, 27 22:18 Others cast lots for His clothes Matt. 27:35 34:20 His bones are not broken John 19:32-33, 36 35:11 He is accused by false witnesses Mark 14:57 35:19 He is hated without cause John 15:25 40:6-8 He comes to do God s will Heb. 10:7 41:9 He is betrayed by a friend Luke 22:47 45:6 He is the eternal King Heb. 1:8 68:18 He ascends to heaven Acts 1:9-11; Eph. 4:8 69:9 He is zealous for God s house John 2:17 69:21 He is offered vinegar and gall to drink Matt. 27:34 109:4 He prays for His enemies Luke 23:34 109:8 His betrayer is replaced Acts 1:20 110:1 He rules over His enemies Matt. 22: :4 He is a priest forever like Melchizedek Heb. 5:6 118:22 He is the chief cornerstone Matt. 21:42 118:26 He comes in the name of the Lord Matt. 21:9 Psalm 40 is a psalm of David and it is obviously a Messianic psalm because verses 6-8 are applied to Christ in Hebrews 10:5-7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 1. David s (vs. 1-10) A. God s goodness (vs. 1-3) David waited patiently (vs. 1), meaning that he waited expectantly that God would do something.

5 B. God s goodness in the Lord (vs. 4) See Psalm 34:8; 71:5; Prov. 3:5-6. C. God s goodness (vs. 5) Psalms 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. David rejoiced in God s works and His thoughts on his behalf (see also Ps. 139:17-18). D. David to God (vs. 6-8) God opened David s ears. This means that He taught him obedience and dedication. He taught him that there is a better sacrifice than the sacrifice of animals. It is the sacrifice of an obedient will (compare to Isa. 48:8 where God describes a disobedient people). So David approached God not with an animal sacrifice, but with himself as a living sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, 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. Psalms 51: For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. The writer of Hebrews 10:5-7 quotes these verses and applies them to Christ as having a conversation with God the Father. E. David of God (vs. 9-10) 2. David s (vs ) A. David s prayer was (vs. 11) It is one thing to know the truth about God; it is another to call upon God to manifest Himself and make us godly. B. David s prayer was (vs. 12) David understood this was self-inflicted trouble. C. David s prayer was (vs. 13, 17) He knew that God was his only hope. D. David s prayer was (vs ) E. David s prayer was (vs. 16) Verses 6-8 reflect the real spirit of Christmas, the same attitude Jesus had when He entered the world. This attitude motivated Him all the way to the cross (Phil. 2:5-8). Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. All of human history revolves around two people Adam and Christ (the last Adam). Adam sinned when he placed his desires above God s will. As a result the whole human race was plunged into sin and condemnation. Jesus came to do God s will and provide eternal redemption. To accomplish that purpose He became a man and died for our sins. Our personal salvation hinges on doing God s will from the heart. We must repent of our sins and receive Christ as Lord and Savior.