Psalms 40
McGeePsalms 40THEME: A messianic psalm predicting the crucifixion of ChristTwo messianic psalms, 40 and 41, conclude the Genesis section of the Psalms. They are called messianic psalms because they are so quoted in the New Testament, which makes them especially important.
Psalms 40:1
This is a proper psalm to follow Psalms 39. All of these psalms go together; that is, you will note a continuity. There are those who feel that this psalm expresses the experience of David in his flight from Absalom, and that is accurate to a point. But this psalm is quoted in the Epistle to the Hebrews in a most remarkable way. In this psalm the One who celebrates in praise and thanksgiving the Resurrection, the triumph and Ascension is the Lord Jesus Himself. This is truly a messianic psalm. It reveals that the death of Christ was not a defeat at all. It was a great victory. When He says, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry,” He is referring to His cry from the cross.
Psalms 40:2
Christ’s agony and death is likened to a horrible pit, a pit of destruction. We cannot conceive how terrible the death of Christ on the cross really was.
Psalms 40:3
This verse mentions a new songwe have read about a new song beforeit is the song of redemption. “Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” What are they going to see? They will see the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalms 40:4
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the example of a man who puts his trust in God, who does not respect the proud, and who does not turn aside to lies.
Psalms 40:5
God has revealed what He thinks of us by sending His Son to die on the cross. At the time I am writing this, I often hear speculations as to the possibility of life on planets other than our own. I am certainly no expert in this field, but I think it may be possible that other planets are inhabited. But I can guarantee this: there will not be a cross on any of the planets out there in space. It was only here that the Son of God died on a cross. How wonderful! “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are toward us.” My, how the Cross reveals God’s love for us! Now the following is quoted in the Epistle to the Hebrews:
Psalms 40:6
This is a marvelous psalm that follows the preceding one which reveals the frailty of man. “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened.” Now notice how this is quoted in Heb_10:5, “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.” Now, wait a minute. Is this misquoted? Critics of the Bible say, “Oh, here is an error, a contradiction in the Bible. In Psa_40:6 it says ‘…mine ears hast thou opened …’; and in Hebrews it says, ‘…a body hast thou prepared me.’” The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. He wrote the Old Testament and the New Testament. He wrote both Psalms and Hebrews, and He has a perfect right to change His own writing. When He does, there is always a good reason. Now let’s consider the background. In Exodus 21 there is a law concerning servants and masters. If a man became a slave to another man, at the end of a certain period of time he could go free. Suppose during that period he met another slave, a woman, they fell in love and married and had children. When it was time for the man to go free, he could leave, but his wife and children could not go with him because she was a slave. What could this man do? He could decide that because he loved his master and his wife he would not leave. “Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever” (Exo_21:6). The psalmist is referring to this custom when he says, “mine ears hast thou opened.” When the Lord Jesus came to this earth, did He have his ear thrust through with an awl? No, He was given a body. He took upon Himself our humanity. He identified Himself with us and He became a servant. And He became a sacrifice. “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire"God did not delight in all the animal offerings in the Old Testament, but they pointed to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now notice what Isaiah says on this subject. “The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back” (Isa_50:5). This verse is prophesying the humiliation of the Servant (Christ) who would come to earth. When the Lord Jesus came down to this earth and went to the cross, His ear wasn’t “opened” or “digged”; He was given a body, and that body was nailed to a cross. My friend, He has taken a glorified body with nail prints in it back to heaven, and He will bear those nail prints and scars throughout eternity that you and I might be presented without spot or blemish before Him. You see, He did more than have His ear bored through with an awl; He gave His body to be crucified because He loved us and would not return to heaven without us. My friend, this is a marvelous messianic psalm that reveals the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ because He loved us.