I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy Law is within my heart. The obedience to be rendered will be a true and acceptable obedience, (1) cheerful, and Consciously or unconsciously, David speaks as the type of Christ (see Hebrews 10:5-7 ). read more
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation : rather, I have proclaimed righteousness. David has sung the praises of God in the "great congregation,'' and extolled his righteousness and truth ( Psalms 35:18 ). He has not "preached," in the modern sense of the word, since the preaching office was reserved for the priests and Levites. Lo, I have not refrained my lips; or, I will not refrain my lips. I will continue to glorify thee openly, and praise thy Name while I have my... read more
I delight to do thy will, O my God - To wit, in obeying the law; in submitting to all the trials appointed to me; in making an atonement for the sins of men. See the notes at Hebrews 10:7. Compare Philippians 2:8; Matthew 26:39.Yea, thy law is within my heart - Margin, “In the midst of my bowels.” So the Hebrew. The idea is, that the law of God was within him. His obedience was not external, but proceeded from the heart. How true this was of the Redeemer it is not necessary here to say. read more
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation - I have main tained and defended the principles of righteousness and truth among assembled multitudes. it would be difficult to see how this could be applied to David himself, or on what occasion of his life this could be said of him; but no one can doubt that this is applicable to the Messiah:(a) He was a preacher.(b) He addressed vast multitudes.(c) Before them all, and at all times, he maintained and illustrated the great principles of... read more
Psalms 40:8. I delight to do thy will This also, though in a general sense it may be true of David, and of all God’s people, yet, if it be compared with the foregoing verse, and with the explication thereof in the New Testament, (in which those mysteries, which were darkly and doubtfully expressed in the Old Testament, are fully and clearly revealed,) it must be appropriated to Christ, of whom it is eminently true; and it is here observed as an act of heroic obedience, that he not only... read more
Psalms 40:9-10. I have preached righteousness Namely, thy righteousness, as it is expressed in the next verse; that is, thy faithfulness, as it is there explained; or, righteousness properly so called; for both were fully declared and demonstrated in Christ; the former in God’s sending him into the world, according to his promise, Acts 13:23; and the latter in inflicting death upon him for man’s sin, Romans 3:25-26. In the great congregation In the most public and solemn assemblies; not... read more
Psalms 40:0 The life that pleases GodDavid here refers to some past experience in which God rescued him from what appeared to be certain death. David felt like a person who had fallen into a muddy pit and was sinking to death, but God pulled him out and put him on firm ground again. He can now continue his journey, singing as he goes and thereby encouraging others to put their trust in God (1-3). His song is one of praise to God, whose loving works on behalf of the faithful are more than can be... read more
delight. Note the double delight (Isaiah 42:1 .Matthew 3:17; Matthew 3:17 ). will = good pleasure. within = in the midst. heart = bowels: i.e. my inward parts. read more
preached = declared as glad tidings = euaggelizo in N.T. congregation = assembly, or convocation. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 40:7-8
The heart of Messiah. "Lo, I come!" Many questions might be asked as to this announcement. Who is this? Whence, and whither, and for what purpose, does he come? It is enough that we can identify the Speaker ( Luke 24:44 ; Hebrews 10:5-7 ). Let us therefore ponder his words. I. THE WILL OF GOD WAS THE CHIEF THOUGHT OF HIS HEART . We see this in his earthly life. See him at his first Passover. When Joseph and Mary found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of... read more