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Psalms 40:5
Verse
Context
I Waited Patiently for the LORD
4Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. 5Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.
Sermons
Carter Conlon
Chuck Smith
Jim Cymbala
James R. Cochrane
John Piper
Ian PaisleySummary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
He esteems him happy who puts his trust (מבטחו, with a latent Dagesh, as, according to Kimchi, also in Psa 71:5; Job 31:24; Jer 17:7) in Jahve, the God who has already made Himself glorious in Israel by innumerable wonderful works. Jer 17:7 is an echo of this אשׁרי. Psa 52:9 (cf. Psa 91:9) shows how Davidic is the language. The expression is designedly not האישׁ, but הגּבר, which is better adapted to designate the man as being tempted to put trust in himself. רהבים from רהב (not from רהב) are the impetuous or violent, who in their arrogance cast down everything. שׂטי כזב, "turners aside of falsehood" (שׁוּט = שׂטה, cf. Psa 101:3), is the expression for apostates who yield to falsehood instead of to the truth: to take כּזב as accusative of the aim is forbidden by the status construct.; to take it as the genitive in the sense of the accusative of the object (like תם הלכי, Pro 2:7) is impracticable, because שׂוט (שׂטה) does not admit of a transitive sense; כזב is, therefore, genit. qualit. like און in Psa 59:6. This second strophe contains two practical applications of that which the writer himself has experienced. From this point of view, he who trusts in God appears to the poet to be supremely happy, and a distant view of God's gracious rule over His own people opens up before him. נפלאות are the thoughts of God realized, and מחשׁבות those that are being realized, as in Jer 51:29; Isa 55:8. רבּות is an accusative of the predicate: in great number, in rich abundance; אלינוּ, "for us," as e.g., in Jer 15:1 (Ew. 217, c). His doings towards Israel were from of old a fulness of wondrous deeds and plans of deliverance, which was ever realizing and revealing itself. There is not ערך אליך, a possibility of comparison with Thee, οὐκ ἔστι (Ew. 321, c) ἰσουν τί σοι - ערך as in Psa 89:7; Isa 40:18 - they are too powerful (עצם of a powerful sum, as in Psa 69:5; Psa 139:17, cf. Jer 5:6) for one to enumerate. According to Rosenmller, Stier, and Hupfeld, אין ערך אליך even affirms the same thing in other words: it is not possible to lay them forth to Thee (before Thee); but that man should "lay forth" (Symmachus ἐκθέστηαι) before God His marvellous works and His thoughts of salvation, is an unbecoming conception. The cohortative forms, which follow, אגּידה ואדבּרה ,wollof h, admit of being taken as a protasis to what follows, after the analogy of Job 19:18; Job 16:6; Job 30:26; Psa 139:8 : if I wish to declare them and speak them forth, they are too powerful (numerous) to be enumerated (Ges. 128, 1, d). The accentuation, however, renders it as a parenthetical clause: I would (as in Psa 51:18; Psa 55:13; Psa 6:10) declare them and speak them forth. He would do this, but because God, in the fulness of His wondrous works and thoughts of salvation, is absolutely without an equal, he is obliged to leave it undone - they are so powerful (numerous) that the enumeration of them falls far short of their powerful fulness. The words alioqui pronunciarem et eloquerer have the character of a parenthesis, and, as Psa 40:7 shows, this accords with the style of this Psalm.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
be reckoned up in order--(compare Psa 5:3; Psa 33:14; Isa 44:7), 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.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done,.... This is the "new song", as Aben Ezra rightly observes, which is said in Psa 40:3, to be put in the mouth of the Messiah; who sometimes speaks in the plural number, being the representative of his people, and sometimes in the singular; for it is the same person that speaks here who is continued speaking in Psa 40:6, and following; and which are applied to Christ, Heb 10:5; the "works" here said to be done, and to be "many" and "wonderful", are not the creation of the world, the dividing of the sea, and feeding the people of Israel forty years in the wilderness, as Jarchi interprets them; but the incarnation of Christ, redemption by him, the resurrection of him from the dead; regeneration and conversion, and the preservation of the saints from the evil of the world, safe to the kingdom and glory of God; all which, as they are many and various, and display the manifold wisdom and grace of God, so they are marvellous, and will be the subject of the wonder of saints to all eternity; and thy thoughts which are to us-ward; that is, the decrees of God, as Aben Ezra truly explains them; the purposes, counsels, and intentions of God; which, though mentioned last, are before his works, and are the spring of them: these were in the mind of God from everlasting, were unknown till revealed, were thoughts of peace, and not of evil, and are unfrustrable, and ever fulfilled, and are manifold, precious, and amazing, Psa 139:17; and these were concerning all the elect of God as considered in Christ, and members of his; and therefore he says to us-ward; and all the works before mentioned were done to them, or for them, and on their account; and so Jarchi and Aben Ezra interpret the phrase, "because of us", or "for our sakes"; even the incarnation, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ, and the thoughts of them, were for them; they cannot be reckoned up in order to thee; or "there is none can order them unto thee" (l); there is no power in man to do it, as Aben Ezra observes; or "there is none like unto thee", as Jarchi and the Oriental versions; see Exo 15:11; though this sense seems to break in upon the account of the wonderful works and thoughts of God, which are still designed in the following clause; if I could declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered; that is, by men: from this general account of, the many and wonderful works and thoughts of God, the Messiah passes on to take notice of one particular design and work of the Lord, the redemption of his people by the sacrifice of himself. (l) "non est qui ordinet apud te", Pagninus; "none can count them in order to thee", Ainsworth.
Psalms 40:5
I Waited Patiently for the LORD
4Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. 5Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Knowing the Mind of Christ
By Carter Conlon2.4K49:48Mind of ChristPSA 40:5ISA 55:6In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the need for a generation that will walk with God and allow Him to be in control. He highlights the importance of obedience and starting small in order to see the gifts of the Spirit manifest in one's life. The speaker also emphasizes that the kingdom of God is supernatural and about dead men coming to life in Christ. He encourages believers to be vessels through which God can pour out His word and life to dry and fruitless places. The sermon references Jeremiah 29:11, where God assures His people that He has good thoughts and plans for them.
(The Church in the Last Days) 01 - Tree of Life or Tree of Death
By Milton Green1.9K57:12GEN 1:1PSA 40:5PSA 40:72CO 3:171PE 1:3REV 14:3In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of opposing and exposing the powers of darkness in our lives. He encourages listeners to question old traditions and teachings that may conflict with the revelation they receive from the Word of God. The preacher urges the audience to listen to the entire series of tapes in numerical order to fully understand and receive the teachings. He also highlights the significance of praising God and seeking His approval above the opinions of others. The sermon emphasizes the need to change our allegiance from Satan to Jesus and warns of the consequences of rebellion against God.
Delight Ourselves in the Lord
By Chuck Smith1.2K25:04TrustPSA 40:1PSA 40:5ISA 1:11ISA 1:13MAT 28:6MRK 16:6LUK 24:6In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith encourages listeners to delight themselves in the Lord and put their trust in Him. He emphasizes the power of God to transform lives and bring people to Christ. Pastor Chuck highlights the wonderful works of God and the thoughts He has towards us, which cannot be fully comprehended. He concludes with a prayer for God's blessings, guidance, and strength for the listeners.
Book of Acts Series - Part 40 | the Plan
By Jim Cymbala94237:19Book Of ActsEXO 25:9PSA 40:5PRO 16:9JER 29:11MAT 6:33EPH 6:10PHP 3:12In this sermon, the pastor emphasizes the importance of having a plan in various aspects of life. He highlights how society operates with plans in businesses, universities, and even personal goals. However, he also emphasizes that God has plans for our lives and wants us to be active participants in His plan. The pastor encourages the congregation to make plans according to God's plan and to be co-laborers with Christ. He also emphasizes the need for discipline and a plan to study the Bible and grow closer to God.
Week of Meetings 1974-02 Romans 1:21
By James R. Cochrane80143:08PSA 40:5ACT 16:25ROM 8:282CO 4:8EPH 5:18EPH 5:201TH 5:16In this sermon, the speaker begins by referencing 2 Timothy 3:1, which warns of perilous times in the last days where people will be lovers of themselves and money. The speaker then shares a personal anecdote about a man named Mr. Peterkin and a young man in a park. Mr. Peterkin teaches the young man the importance of gratitude and saying thank you. The speaker reflects on the beauty of God's creation and expresses gratitude for a nation that sets aside a day to give thanks to God.
If My Words Abide in You
By John Piper63946:44PSA 1:2PSA 40:5PSA 103:2JHN 3:34JHN 6:63JHN 17:17ROM 10:171PE 1:231JN 2:14
This sermon emphasizes the importance of memorizing scripture to deepen understanding, strengthen faith, shape worldview, overcome temptation, guard the mind, and minister to others effectively. It highlights the transformative power of God's Word, the necessity of abiding in Jesus' words for sanctification, and the victory over the enemy through scripture. The speaker shares personal testimonies and insights on the significance of Bible memory in experiencing God's wondrous deeds and thoughts in daily life.
The Musts of Christ’s Career
By Ian Paisley48532:58PSA 40:5In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being about God's business. He highlights that Jesus Christ accomplished his father's business through preaching the Gospel. The preacher emphasizes the power of the Gospel to transform lives, citing examples of people who came into a Gospel service blinded by sin but left singing and free. He also mentions that the momentum behind the Gospel is the Holy Spirit, which believers receive as a result of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. The sermon concludes with a reminder of the central message of the Gospel: God's love for the world and the offer of everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Discipline of Dependence - 7
By Jack Hibbs4211:04:02DisciplinePSA 40:5PSA 92:5ROM 15:41PE 2:20In this sermon, David Barton emphasizes the importance of seeking God's perfect will for our lives. He encourages listeners to trust in God's thoughts and plans for them, which are abundant and cannot be counted. Barton also highlights the relevance of the Scriptures in providing guidance and answers to life's challenges. He urges individuals to identify themselves in light of Scripture and learn from the examples of those who have gone before us. Ultimately, he reminds listeners that Jesus holds the words of eternal life and encourages them to remain steadfast in their faith.
The End-Time Church Fully Engaged With the Holy Spirit
By Mike Bickle2455:32End-Time ChurchBridal IdentityPSA 40:5PSA 92:5ISA 62:5MAT 9:381CO 2:10EPH 3:18REV 22:12Mike Bickle emphasizes the vital role of the Holy Spirit in the end-time church, highlighting the church's need to embrace its bridal identity and engage in intercession. He explains that the Spirit and the Bride will cry out for Jesus to come, reflecting a deep unity and urgency for His return. Bickle outlines a fourfold revelation of Jesus that awakens the church to its mission and identity, urging believers to align with the Spirit's intercessory work. He asserts that this prophetic call is crucial for the church to experience a powerful breakthrough and victory in the midst of spiritual conflict. Ultimately, the message is about cultivating an active intimacy with Jesus as the Bridegroom, leading to a transformative relationship with God.
Our Insufficiency to Praise God Suitably, for His Mercy.
By Edward Taylor0PSA 8:3PSA 40:5PSA 103:12PSA 145:3REV 5:11Edward Taylor's sermon emphasizes the infinite nature of God's glory and the inadequacy of human praise in comparison. He reflects on the idea that even if the entire world were to be atomized into countless particles, the number of praises offered to God would still be immeasurable. Taylor contemplates the magnitude of praise that could be offered if each atom represented a pious man, each man had multiple tongues, and each tongue sang numerous songs of praise. Despite our limitations and shortcomings, Taylor acknowledges God's compassion in transforming us from sinful beings to ones capable of offering praise, albeit imperfectly.
Broken Down Altars
By Billy Sunday0PSA 40:5ISA 40:13DAN 4:35ROM 11:341CO 2:16The preacher delves into the concept of 'Unfathomable', describing it as that which cannot be traced out or comprehended by human minds, using the Greek word 'anexichniastos'. This term is used to illustrate the incomprehensibility of God's ways and thoughts, emphasizing that His philosophy and decrees defy human analysis. The preacher highlights that God's path is untraceable, contrasting the limited knowledge of man with the infinite knowledge of God, who needs no counsel and whose ways are beyond human understanding.
Calm in the Midst of Crisis
By David Wilkerson0Peace in CrisisTrust in GodPSA 40:5PSA 139:17PRO 3:5LUK 5:22David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound thoughts and care God has for each individual, highlighting that God has been mindful of us since before our birth. He reassures us that God's faithfulness is evident in heaven, where angels testify to His promises and trustworthiness. In times of crisis, the world seeks Christians who can remain calm and steadfast, demonstrating their faith in God's unwavering support. Wilkerson encourages believers to trust in the Lord wholeheartedly, as true freedom from fear and worry comes from resting in the Creator's love and assurance.
More on David Confessing the Lord as His God
By Bob Hoekstra0PSA 16:1PSA 30:2PSA 31:13PSA 38:4PSA 40:5Bob Hoekstra preaches on the importance of confessing the Lord as our God in every circumstance, just like David did in the Psalms. David turned to the Lord in times of personal sin, sickness, lack of goodness, and joy, acknowledging God's sovereignty and power over his life. Despite facing overwhelming guilt and distress, David humbly repented and sought God's presence, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of hope and healing.
The Greatness of God's Love to His Elect
By Thomas Goodwin0PSA 40:5JER 31:3JHN 13:1ROM 8:372TH 2:131JN 4:8Thomas Goodwin preaches about the incomprehensible and eternal love of God towards His chosen ones, emphasizing that God's love is not a result of human merit but originates from His own nature. The preacher highlights that God's love is complete and perfect from the beginning, manifested through the gift of His Son and the eternal plan of salvation. Goodwin explains that God's love is continuous, renewed every moment, and extends to eternity, as seen in His everlasting care and thoughts towards His beloved. The preacher underscores that God's love is special, choosing a few out of all creation, and that His love is so great that all acts of mercy and grace are expressions of that initial perfect love.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
He esteems him happy who puts his trust (מבטחו, with a latent Dagesh, as, according to Kimchi, also in Psa 71:5; Job 31:24; Jer 17:7) in Jahve, the God who has already made Himself glorious in Israel by innumerable wonderful works. Jer 17:7 is an echo of this אשׁרי. Psa 52:9 (cf. Psa 91:9) shows how Davidic is the language. The expression is designedly not האישׁ, but הגּבר, which is better adapted to designate the man as being tempted to put trust in himself. רהבים from רהב (not from רהב) are the impetuous or violent, who in their arrogance cast down everything. שׂטי כזב, "turners aside of falsehood" (שׁוּט = שׂטה, cf. Psa 101:3), is the expression for apostates who yield to falsehood instead of to the truth: to take כּזב as accusative of the aim is forbidden by the status construct.; to take it as the genitive in the sense of the accusative of the object (like תם הלכי, Pro 2:7) is impracticable, because שׂוט (שׂטה) does not admit of a transitive sense; כזב is, therefore, genit. qualit. like און in Psa 59:6. This second strophe contains two practical applications of that which the writer himself has experienced. From this point of view, he who trusts in God appears to the poet to be supremely happy, and a distant view of God's gracious rule over His own people opens up before him. נפלאות are the thoughts of God realized, and מחשׁבות those that are being realized, as in Jer 51:29; Isa 55:8. רבּות is an accusative of the predicate: in great number, in rich abundance; אלינוּ, "for us," as e.g., in Jer 15:1 (Ew. 217, c). His doings towards Israel were from of old a fulness of wondrous deeds and plans of deliverance, which was ever realizing and revealing itself. There is not ערך אליך, a possibility of comparison with Thee, οὐκ ἔστι (Ew. 321, c) ἰσουν τί σοι - ערך as in Psa 89:7; Isa 40:18 - they are too powerful (עצם of a powerful sum, as in Psa 69:5; Psa 139:17, cf. Jer 5:6) for one to enumerate. According to Rosenmller, Stier, and Hupfeld, אין ערך אליך even affirms the same thing in other words: it is not possible to lay them forth to Thee (before Thee); but that man should "lay forth" (Symmachus ἐκθέστηαι) before God His marvellous works and His thoughts of salvation, is an unbecoming conception. The cohortative forms, which follow, אגּידה ואדבּרה ,wollof h, admit of being taken as a protasis to what follows, after the analogy of Job 19:18; Job 16:6; Job 30:26; Psa 139:8 : if I wish to declare them and speak them forth, they are too powerful (numerous) to be enumerated (Ges. 128, 1, d). The accentuation, however, renders it as a parenthetical clause: I would (as in Psa 51:18; Psa 55:13; Psa 6:10) declare them and speak them forth. He would do this, but because God, in the fulness of His wondrous works and thoughts of salvation, is absolutely without an equal, he is obliged to leave it undone - they are so powerful (numerous) that the enumeration of them falls far short of their powerful fulness. The words alioqui pronunciarem et eloquerer have the character of a parenthesis, and, as Psa 40:7 shows, this accords with the style of this Psalm.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
be reckoned up in order--(compare Psa 5:3; Psa 33:14; Isa 44:7), 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.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done,.... This is the "new song", as Aben Ezra rightly observes, which is said in Psa 40:3, to be put in the mouth of the Messiah; who sometimes speaks in the plural number, being the representative of his people, and sometimes in the singular; for it is the same person that speaks here who is continued speaking in Psa 40:6, and following; and which are applied to Christ, Heb 10:5; the "works" here said to be done, and to be "many" and "wonderful", are not the creation of the world, the dividing of the sea, and feeding the people of Israel forty years in the wilderness, as Jarchi interprets them; but the incarnation of Christ, redemption by him, the resurrection of him from the dead; regeneration and conversion, and the preservation of the saints from the evil of the world, safe to the kingdom and glory of God; all which, as they are many and various, and display the manifold wisdom and grace of God, so they are marvellous, and will be the subject of the wonder of saints to all eternity; and thy thoughts which are to us-ward; that is, the decrees of God, as Aben Ezra truly explains them; the purposes, counsels, and intentions of God; which, though mentioned last, are before his works, and are the spring of them: these were in the mind of God from everlasting, were unknown till revealed, were thoughts of peace, and not of evil, and are unfrustrable, and ever fulfilled, and are manifold, precious, and amazing, Psa 139:17; and these were concerning all the elect of God as considered in Christ, and members of his; and therefore he says to us-ward; and all the works before mentioned were done to them, or for them, and on their account; and so Jarchi and Aben Ezra interpret the phrase, "because of us", or "for our sakes"; even the incarnation, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ, and the thoughts of them, were for them; they cannot be reckoned up in order to thee; or "there is none can order them unto thee" (l); there is no power in man to do it, as Aben Ezra observes; or "there is none like unto thee", as Jarchi and the Oriental versions; see Exo 15:11; though this sense seems to break in upon the account of the wonderful works and thoughts of God, which are still designed in the following clause; if I could declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered; that is, by men: from this general account of, the many and wonderful works and thoughts of God, the Messiah passes on to take notice of one particular design and work of the Lord, the redemption of his people by the sacrifice of himself. (l) "non est qui ordinet apud te", Pagninus; "none can count them in order to thee", Ainsworth.