Psalm 40:7-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 40:15

Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame ,.... Of their shameful wishes, words, and actions, as they were: their habitations in Jerusalem were desolate, and so was their house or temple there, and their whole land, and they themselves were stripped of everything, when Jerusalem was taken and destroyed; see Matthew 23:38 , Acts 1:20 ; that say unto me, Aha, aha ; words expressive of joy, Psalm 35:21 , exulting at his miseries and sufferings on the cross, Matthew 27:39 ; so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 40:16

Let all those that seek thee ,.... In the first place, with their whole hearts, earnestly and diligently, in Christ, and under the influences of his Spirit, for pardon, righteousness, communion, larger measures of grace, and for honour, glory, immortality, and eternal life; rejoice and be glad in thee : as their covenant God, the Father of their mercies, the God of all comfort and salvation, who pardons their sins, clothes them with the robes of righteousness and garments of salvation,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 40:17

But I am poor and needy ,.... As Christ was literally, 2 Corinthians 8:9 ; and in a spiritual sense, when deserted by his Father, forsaken by his disciples, and surrounded by his enemies; and had the sins of his people, the curse of the law, and the wrath of God upon him; yet the Lord thinketh upon me ; thinketh good for me, as the Targum; or thinks highly of me; has me in great esteem though despised of men, and in such a suffering state; thou art my help and my deliverer ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 40:7

In the volume of the book - ספר במגלת bimegillath sepher , "in the roll of the book." Anciently, books were written on skins, and rolled up. Among the Romans, these were called volumina, from volvo, I roll; and the Pentateuch in the Jewish synagogues is still written in this way. There are two wooden rollers; on one they roll on, on the other they roll off, as they proceed in reading. One now lying before me, written on vellum, is two feet two inches in breadth and one hundred and two... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 40:8

To do thy will - God willed not the sacrifices under the law, but he willed that a human victim of infinite merit should be offered for the redemption of mankind. That there might be such a victim, a body was prepared for the eternal Logos, and in that body he came to do the will of God; that is, to suffer and die for the sins of the world. Hence we see that the sovereign Will of God is that Jesus should be incarnated; that he should suffer and die; or, in the apostle's words, taste death... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 40:9

I have preached righteousness - I think it best to refer these words to Christ and his apostles. In consequence of his having become a sacrifice for sin, the Jewish sacrificial system being ended, the middle wall of partition was broken down, and the door of faith, the doctrine of justification by faith, opened to the Gentiles. Hence the Gospel was preached in all the world, and the mercy of God made known to the Gentiles; and thus righteousness - justification by faith, was preached in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 40:10

Thy faithfulness - This means the exact fulfillment of the promises made by the prophets relative to the incarnation of Christ, and the opening of the door of faith to the Gentiles. Loving-kindness - Shows the gift itself of Jesus Christ, the highest proof that God could give to a lost world of his mercy, kindness, and loving-kindness. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 40:11

Thy tender mercies - רחמיך rachameycha , such propensities and feelings as a mother bears to her child; or animals in general to their young. Let thy loving-kindness - חסדך chasdecha , thy overflowing and superabundant mercy. And thy truth - What is revealed in thy word: continually preserve me. Mercy to help me, truth to direct me; and, by the operation of both, I shall be continually preserved from sin and evil. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 40:12

Innumerable evils have compassed me about - This part does not comport with the preceding; and either argues a former experience, or must be considered a part of another Psalm, written at a different time, and on another occasion, and, were we to prefix the two first verses of the seventieth Psalm to it we should find it to be a Psalm as complete in itself as that is. They are more than the hairs of mine head - This could not be said by any person who was exulting in the pardoning mercy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 40:15

That say unto me, Aha, aha - האח האח . See on Psalm 35:21 ; (note). read more

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