59 lines
11 KiB
HTML
59 lines
11 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
|
|
<head>
|
|
<title>Blue Letter Bible: Text Commentaries</title>
|
|
<script src="../../../js/basepath.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/nav.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script type="text/javascript">
|
|
PriorBook = 'Job';
|
|
PriorBookURL = './Comm/jfb/Job/Job000.html';
|
|
PriorChapter = 'Psalm 39';
|
|
PriorChapterURL = './Comm/jfb/Psa/Psa039.html';
|
|
NextBook = 'Proverbs';
|
|
NextBookURL = './Comm/jfb/Pro/Pro000.html';
|
|
NextChapter = 'Psalm 41';
|
|
NextChapterURL = './Comm/jfb/Psa/Psa041.html';
|
|
Title = 'The Book of Psalms';
|
|
SubTitle1 = 'Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET';
|
|
SubTitle2 = '';
|
|
SubTitle3 = 'PSALM 40';
|
|
SubTitle3Cased = 'Psalm 40';
|
|
Author = ' Jamieson, Fausset & Brown';
|
|
imageMasthead = 'jfb.gif';
|
|
authorCite = 'Robert Jamieson; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown';
|
|
</script>
|
|
<script src="./js/Comms/JFB.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
</head><body>
|
|
<p id="Chapter40" align="center">Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET<br>PSALM 40
|
|
<p id="Ps40_1"><a onclick="return mV('Psa',40,'1-17');">Psa 40:1-17</a>.
|
|
<p>In this Psalm a celebration of God's deliverance is followed by a profession of devotion to His service. Then follows a prayer for relief from imminent dangers, involving the overthrow of enemies and the rejoicing of sympathizing friends. In <a onclick="return mV('Hbr',10,5);">Hbr 10:5</a>, etc., Paul quotes <a onclick="return mV('Psa',40,'6-8');">Psa 40:6-8</a> as the words of Christ, offering Himself as a better sacrifice. Some suppose Paul thus accommodated David's words to express Christ's sentiments. But the value of his quotation would be thus destroyed, as it would have no force in his argument, unless regarded by his readers as the original sense of the passage in the Old Testament. Others suppose the Psalm describes David's feelings in suffering and joy; but the language quoted by Paul, in the sense given by him, could not apply to David in any of his relations, for as a type the language is not adapted to describe any event or condition of David's career, and as an individual representing the pious generally, neither he nor they could properly use it (see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Psa/Psa040.html#Ps40_7">Psa 40:7</a>, below). The Psalm must be taken then, as the sixteenth, to express the feelings of Christ's human nature. The difficulties pertinent to this view will be considered as they occur.
|
|
<p><b>1-3.</b> The figures for deep distress are illustrated in Jeremiah's history (<a onclick="return mV('Jer',38,'6-12');">Jer 38:6-12</a>). Patience and trust manifested in distress, deliverance in answer to prayer, and the blessed effect of it in eliciting praise from God's true worshippers, teach us that Christ's suffering is our example, and His deliverance our encouragement (<a onclick="return mV('Hbr',5,7,8);">Hbr 5:7-8</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Hbr',12,3);">12:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Pe',4,'12-16');">1Pe 4:12-16</a>).
|
|
<br><br><b>inclined</b>—(the ear, <a onclick="return mV('Psa',17,6);">Psa 17:6</a>), as if to catch the faintest sigh.
|
|
<p id="Ps40_3"><b>3. a new song</b>—(See on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Psa/Psa033.html#Ps33_3">Psa 33:3</a>).
|
|
<br><br><b>fear, and...trust</b>—revere with love and faith.
|
|
<p id="Ps40_4"><b>4. Blessed</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',1,1);">Psa 1:1</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',2,12);">2:12</a>).
|
|
<br><br><b>respecteth</b>—literally, "turns towards," as an object of confidence.
|
|
<br><br><b>turn aside</b>—from true God and His law to falsehood in worship and conduct.
|
|
<p id="Ps40_5"><b>5. be reckoned up in order</b>—(compare <a href= "#" onclick="return mV('Psa',5,3);">Psa 5:3</a>; <a href= "#" onclick="return mV('Psa',33,14);">33:14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',44,7);">Isa 44:7</a>), too many to be set forth regularly. This is but one instance of many. The use of the plural accords with the union of Christ and His people. In suffering and triumph, they are one with Him.
|
|
<p id="Ps40_6"><b>6-8.</b> In Paul's view this passage has more meaning than the mere expression of grateful devotion to God's service. He represents Christ as declaring that the sacrifices, whether vegetable or animal, general or special expiatory offerings, would not avail to meet the demands of God's law, and that He had come to render the required satisfaction, which he states was effected by "the offering of the body of Christ" [<a onclick="return mV('Hbr',10,10);">Hbr 10:10</a>], for that is the "will of God" which Christ came to fulfil or do, in order to effect man's redemption. We thus see that the contrast to the unsatisfactory character assigned the Old Testament offerings in <a onclick="return mV('Psa',40,6);">Psa 40:6</a> is found in the compliance with God's law (compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',40,7,8);">Psa 40:7-8</a>). Of course, as Paul and other New Testament writers explain Christ's work, it consisted in more than being made under the law or obeying its precepts. It required an "obedience unto death" [<a onclick="return mV('Phl',2,8);">Phl 2:8</a>], and that is the compliance here chiefly intended, and which makes the contrast with <a onclick="return mV('Psa',40,6);">Psa 40:6</a> clear.
|
|
<br><br><b>mine ears hast thou opened</b>—Whether allusion is made to the custom of boring a servant's ear, in token of voluntary and perpetual enslavement (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',21,6);">Exd 21:6</a>), or that <i>the opening of the ear,</i> as in <a onclick="return mV('Isa',48,8);">Isa 48:8</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',50,5);">50:5</a> (though by a different word in <i>Hebrew</i>) denotes obedience by the common figure of hearing for obeying, it is evident that the clause is designed to express a devotion to God's will as avowed more fully in <a onclick="return mV('Psa',40,8);">Psa 40:8</a>, and already explained. Paul, however, uses the words, "a body hast thou prepared me" [<a onclick="return mV('Hbr',10,5);">Hbr 10:5</a>], which are found in the <i>Septuagint</i> in the place of the words, "<i>mine</i> ears hast thou opened." He does not lay any stress on this clause, and his argument is complete without it. It is, perhaps, to be regarded rather as an interpretation or free translation by the <i>Septuagint,</i> than either an addition or attempt at verbal translation. The <i>Septuagint</i> translators may have had reference to Christ's vicarious sufferings as taught in other Scriptures, as in <a onclick="return mV('Isa',53,'4-11');">Isa 53:4-11</a>; at all events, the sense is substantially the same, as a body was essential to the required obedience (compare <a onclick="return mV('Rom',7,4);">Rom 7:4</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Pe',2,24);">1Pe 2:24</a>).
|
|
<p id="Ps40_7"><b>7. Then</b>—in such case, without necessarily referring to order of time.
|
|
<br><br><b>Lo, I come</b>—I am prepared to do, etc.
|
|
<br><br><b>in the volume of the book</b>—<i>roll of the book.</i> Such rolls, resembling maps, are still used in the synagogues.
|
|
<br><br><b>written of me</b>—or on me, prescribed to me (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',22,13);">2Ki 22:13</a>). The first is the sense adopted by Paul. In either case, the Pentateuch, or law of Moses, is meant, and while it contains much respecting Christ directly, as <a onclick="return mV('Gen',3,15);">Gen 3:15</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Gen',49,10);">49:10</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Deu',18,15);">Deu 18:15</a>, and, indirectly, in the Levitical ritual, there is nowhere any allusion to David.
|
|
<p id="Ps40_9"><b>9, 10. I have preached</b>—literally, "announced good tidings." Christ's prophetical office is taught. He "preached" the great truths of God's government of sinners.
|
|
<p id="Ps40_11"><b>11.</b> may be rendered as an assertion, that God <i>will not withhold</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',16,1);">Psa 16:1</a>).
|
|
<p id="Ps40_12"><b>12. evils</b>—inflicted by others.
|
|
<br><br><b>iniquities</b>—or penal <i>afflictions,</i> and sometimes calamities in the wide sense. This meaning of the word is very common. (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',31,11);">Psa 31:11</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',38,4);">38:4</a>; compare <a onclick="return mV('Gen',4,13);">Gen 4:13</a>, Cain's punishment; <a onclick="return mV('Gen',19,15);">Gen 19:15</a>, that of Sodom <a onclick="return mV('1Sa',28,10);">1Sa 28:10</a>, of the witch of En-dor; also <a onclick="return mV('2Sa',16,12);">2Sa 16:12</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Job',19,29);">Job 19:29</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',5,18);">Isa 5:18</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',53,11);">53:11</a>). This meaning of the word is also favored by the clause, "taken hold of me," which follows, which can be said appropriately of <i>sufferings,</i> but not of <i>sins</i> (compare <a onclick="return mV('Job',27,20);">Job 27:20</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',69,24);">Psa 69:24</a>). Thus, the difficulties in referring this Psalm to Christ, arising from the usual reading of this verse, are removed. Of the terrible <i>afflictions,</i> or sufferings, alluded to and endured for us, compare <a onclick="return mV('Luk',22,'39-44');">Luk 22:39-44</a> , and the narrative of the scenes of Calvary.
|
|
<br><br><b>my heart faileth me</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Mat',26,38);">Mat 26:38</a>), "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death."
|
|
<br><br><b>cannot look up</b>—literally, "I cannot see," not denoting the depression of conscious guilt, as <a onclick="return mV('Luk',18,13);">Luk 18:13</a>, but exhaustion from suffering, as <i>dimness</i> of eyes (compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',6,7);">Psa 6:7</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',13,3);">13:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',38,10);">38:10</a>). The whole context thus sustains the sense assigned to <i>iniquities.</i>
|
|
<p id="Ps40_13"><b>13.</b> (Compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',22,19);">Psa 22:19</a>).
|
|
<p id="Ps40_14"><b>14, 15.</b> The language is not necessarily imprecatory, but rather a confident expectation (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',5,11);">Psa 5:11</a>), though the former sense is not inconsistent with Christ's prayer for the forgiveness of His murderers, inasmuch as their confusion and shame might be the very means to prepare them for humbly seeking forgiveness (compare <a onclick="return mV('Act',2,37);">Act 2:37</a>).
|
|
<p id="Ps40_15"><b>15. for a reward</b>—literally, "in consequence of."
|
|
<br><br><b>Aha</b>—(Compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',35,21,25);">Psa 35:21, 25</a>).
|
|
<p id="Ps40_16"><b>16.</b> (Compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',35,27);">Psa 35:27</a>).
|
|
<br><br><b>love thy salvation</b>—delight in its bestowal on others as well as themselves.
|
|
<p id="Ps40_17"><b>17.</b> A summary of his condition and hopes.
|
|
<br><br><b>thinketh upon</b>—or provides for me. "He was heard," "when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, unto Him that was able to save him from death" [<a onclick="return mV('Hbr',5,7);">Hbr 5:7</a>].
|
|
</div></div><div class="return"><a href="#top">Return to Top</a></div>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainFooter.js" type="text/javascript"></script> |