RR Psalm 40:1-3(1,2) Part 1
Shalom,
Psalm 40:1 For the music director, a psalm of David. 2 I waited patiently for Adonai. He bent down to me and heard my cry. 3 He brought me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. Then He set my feet on a rock. He made my steps firm.
Here is another Psalm probably authored by King David. We say “probably” because the scholarly research this is mixed. The Hebrew text might be translated as “a Psalm ‘for David’” instead of the usual “of David.” Also worth noting as we begin this study, is that in this Psalm, like many others, we find the Hebrew verses are numbered differently from English Bibles. The first two Hebrew verses are combined into one first verse in English. This difference will be persistent so that the Hebrew Psalm 40 ends with 18 verses, while the English translations predominantly end with only 17 verses although every word is the same.
The first thing we find is the author waiting for Adonai(YHVH). The Hebrew for “waiting” is “Qavah” meaning “to hope with expectation.” That same word is repeated, which is how we show emphasis in Hebrew. Another translation would be “waiting I waited,” but our TLV translators chose the expression, “I waited patiently,” which flows congruently.
We then read that the Lord “bent down” which is in Hebrew, “VaYet,” (from “Natah”) meaning “turned aside.” Notably, it is the same word used to describe the “outstretched arm” of the Lord(YHVH) in Exodus 6.
Exodus 6:6 Therefore say to Bnei-Yisrael: I am Adonai, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
God is saying that He heard the groaning of His people, Israel, He will pause everything else He is doing to redeem and deliver “Bnei-Yisrael” (the Children of Israel) from the burdens and bondage of the Egyptians. Now, in Psalm 40, David is using this same word to describe God’s response when He sees us “waiting with expectation” for Him to redeem and deliver us from the burden and bondage of sin.
Psalm 40, verse 3 describes that deliverance in graphic terms. “From (a) slimy pit” in Hebrew is “Mi’Bor Sha’on.” Some translations rightly call it the pit (or cistern) of destruction. The resulting destination is how we close for today. We are destined to be established on the Rock.
Isaiah 28:16 therefore so says the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I place in Zion a Stone for a foundation, a tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone, a sure Foundation; he who believes shall not hurry.
Finally, God makes our steps firm. Psalm 121:3a He will not let your foot slip. Interestingly, Satan tempted Yeshua with this next verse in the desert… Psalm 91:11 For He will give His angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways. 12 Upon their hands they will lift you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. But Yeshua didn’t fall into Satan’s trap… Luke 4:12 But answering, Yeshua said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put Adonai your God to the test.’”
We too must be wise as we wait expectantly upon God to order our steps and keep us from the pit of destruction. Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps in Your word, and let no iniquity get mastery over me. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon24-Nov-20254th of Kislev, 5786
Ge 29:1-17Jdg 21Ps 44Mk 3(Ro 14)
Psalm 40:1 For the music director, a psalm of David. 2 I waited patiently for Adonai. He bent down to me and heard my cry. 3 He brought me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. Then He set my feet on a rock. He made my steps firm.
Here is another Psalm probably authored by King David. We say “probably” because the scholarly research this is mixed. The Hebrew text might be translated as “a Psalm ‘for David’” instead of the usual “of David.” Also worth noting as we begin this study, is that in this Psalm, like many others, we find the Hebrew verses are numbered differently from English Bibles. The first two Hebrew verses are combined into one first verse in English. This difference will be persistent so that the Hebrew Psalm 40 ends with 18 verses, while the English translations predominantly end with only 17 verses although every word is the same.
The first thing we find is the author waiting for Adonai(YHVH). The Hebrew for “waiting” is “Qavah” meaning “to hope with expectation.” That same word is repeated, which is how we show emphasis in Hebrew. Another translation would be “waiting I waited,” but our TLV translators chose the expression, “I waited patiently,” which flows congruently.
We then read that the Lord “bent down” which is in Hebrew, “VaYet,” (from “Natah”) meaning “turned aside.” Notably, it is the same word used to describe the “outstretched arm” of the Lord(YHVH) in Exodus 6.
Exodus 6:6 Therefore say to Bnei-Yisrael: I am Adonai, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
God is saying that He heard the groaning of His people, Israel, He will pause everything else He is doing to redeem and deliver “Bnei-Yisrael” (the Children of Israel) from the burdens and bondage of the Egyptians. Now, in Psalm 40, David is using this same word to describe God’s response when He sees us “waiting with expectation” for Him to redeem and deliver us from the burden and bondage of sin.
Psalm 40, verse 3 describes that deliverance in graphic terms. “From (a) slimy pit” in Hebrew is “Mi’Bor Sha’on.” Some translations rightly call it the pit (or cistern) of destruction. The resulting destination is how we close for today. We are destined to be established on the Rock.
Isaiah 28:16 therefore so says the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I place in Zion a Stone for a foundation, a tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone, a sure Foundation; he who believes shall not hurry.
Finally, God makes our steps firm. Psalm 121:3a He will not let your foot slip. Interestingly, Satan tempted Yeshua with this next verse in the desert… Psalm 91:11 For He will give His angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways. 12 Upon their hands they will lift you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. But Yeshua didn’t fall into Satan’s trap… Luke 4:12 But answering, Yeshua said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put Adonai your God to the test.’”
We too must be wise as we wait expectantly upon God to order our steps and keep us from the pit of destruction. Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps in Your word, and let no iniquity get mastery over me. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon24-Nov-20254th of Kislev, 5786
Ge 29:1-17Jdg 21Ps 44Mk 3(Ro 14)
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