Psalms 40:11 - Exposition

Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord . The supplicatory portion of the psalm here commences. David beseeches God, whose loving-kindness is so great ( Psalms 40:10 ), not to withhold from him those "tender mercies" which he lavishes so freely. As he is bent on "not withholding," or "refraining," his lips ( Psalms 40:9 ), so it is fitting that God should not "withhold," or "refrain'' ( כלא ) his kindness. Let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me (compare the last clause of Psalms 40:10 ).