7 Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures….
Most translators seem consistent in the rendering of this phrase as referring to the “ speaker” being a person who is written about in the scriptures. Commentators disagree, with a large number retranslating the passage and the others declaring that this is a messianic Psalm referring to Jesus.
Seeing Jesus as the helper and saviour in verse 17 is easy and it would be no problem to take nearly all of this Psalm as David praying to God (Jesus?). But to what extent does this Psalm express the words, feelings and actions of Jesus?
The writer of Hebrews takes verses 6 and 7 of Psalm 40 and attributes them to Jesus.
5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. 6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin. 7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” Hebrews 10
In the The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge ( https://tsk-online.com/) there is a direct connection in the cross references between Psalm 40:7 and the following verses: (Hebrews 10:7-9, Genesis 3:15, Luke 24:27,44, Acts 10:43, 1 Peter 1:10-11, John 5:39, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Revelation 19:10). So R.A. Torrey and editors after him have also seen this Psalm as prophesying the words of Jesus.
How much of the Psalm could be the words of Jesus spoken to the Father?
Whether it is Jesus or David we can take these words and find encouragement in them. And in a interesting time warp verse 8 looks forward to God’s promise in Jeremiah 31:33: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
MAIN POINT: We can trust God to rescue us from our own sins because God is and has been at work through Jesus to change our hearts.
When you are overwhelmed by sin, call to God expectantly. V.12-13
12 For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage. 13 Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
Call out to God
v.1 “he turned to me and heard my cry.”
v.17 “O my God, do not delay.”
When God rescues you, tell everyone.
v. 3 “Many will see what he has done and be amazed.” In reference to his song.
v.5 “If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds” Praise overflows unending.
v.9 “I have told all your people about your justice.”
v.10 “I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power”
v.16 “May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!””
When you need saving, recognise you can’t save yourself.
v.1 “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,”
v.2 “He lifted me out of the pit of despair”
v.2 “He set my feet on solid ground”
v.2 “He...steadied me”
v.3 “He has given me a new song to sing”
v.3 “what he has done”
v.5 “you have performed”
v.5 ”Your plans for us”
v.6 “you have made me listen”
v.8 “your will”
v.8 “your instructions”
v.9 “your justice”
v.10 “your faithfulness and saving power”
v.10 “your unfailing love and faithfulness”
v.11 “your tender mercies”
v.17 “You are my helper and my savior”
Conclusion: If it were not for God’s plan to save us through Jesus, we would have no hope. But because God is keeping His promise of salvation, we can confidently call to God and trust God to save us from sin (ours sins and and the sins of others). So
we can call out to God confident that He will hear and help us,
we can recite in song and in every other way that God is a faithful rescuer by remembering all the ways He has already rescued and worked out His plan and
we can confess and recognise that it is only God who saves.
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| Handwritten Psalm 40 |
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