Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

{1 of 3} Psalm 40 – Prophecy of Grace
{2 of 3} Psalm 40 – Symbolism, Hebrew Word Meanings
{3 of 3} Psalm 40 – Personal Applications, Sayings

What should we learn from this chapter?

• Symbolism of Miry Clay and its literal reference to demons
• Symbolism of Rock and its reference to a stable family
• The Pit and its literal reference to a collection of mire
• Pottery is made from the fermenting of clay

Psalm 40

Faith Persevering in Trial

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

Psalm 40:¹ I waited patiently for the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ);
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.

Psalm 40:² He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay (ṭîṭ yāvēn ṭîṭ),
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.

• Miry clay (ṭîṭ yāvēn ṭîṭ)
  
  • ṭîṭ H2916 mire, clay
    From an unused root meaning apparently to be sticky [rath perb. a demon. From טוּא (H2894), through the idea of broken pottery to be swept away]. A metaphoric connection to Edom: red clay. (Like Adam, made from the ground. As such men are compared to pottery. Edom as miry clay which ferments with an ancient hatred.)
    
  • yāvēn H3121 fermented dregs
    Dregs (as effervescing like wine, bubbling). [A fermenting hatred over time]. [Mt. Seir where Esau/Edom dwelt – called a place of demons (Gen 36:8) (From root śāʿîr H8163].
    
  • See: Topic: The Color Red, Topic: Edom

• Rock: Jesus is the stable foundation of men who built their house upon the rock such that when the storm of Satan comes, the house continues to stand. A “house” is one’s family line, like the “House of Windsor”
  • H5554 Rock sela’ as stronghold of Yᵊhōvâ, of security (fig.)
  • I Samuel 2:2 “No one is holy like the LORD (Yᵊhōvâ),
    For there is none besides You,
    Nor is there any rock like our God (‘ĕlōhîm).

• See Topic: Jesus as the Rock, Topic: Jesus as a Rock and a Stone

• Horrible pit (bôr שā’ôn bôr) Pit-Uproar/Tumult-Pit
  • H7588 Horrible שā’ôn uproar, tumult-by implication, destruction.
  • H953 Pit bôr Cisterns without water were used as prisons or dungeons.
  • Ref verse:
    • Jeremiah 38:6
      So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire (ṭîṭ).

Psalm 40:³ He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God (‘ĕlōhîm);
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ).

Psalm 40:⁴ Blessed is that man who makes the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ) his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Psalm 40:⁵ Many, O Lord (Yᵊhōvâ) my God (‘ĕlōhîm), are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:⁶ Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

Psalm 40:⁷ Then I said, “Behold

hinnê h2009 Behold (A Miracle)
Lo, to see something different, special, or miraculous.

“Behold” is both a letter “Hey” and a word (hinnê).
As an ancient letter, it looks like a man with his hands raised. It is the Hebrew letter “hey”:
This ancient letter looks prophetic of Jesus: first, like a picture of a man on a cross with both feet impaled together, AND/OR a man sitting on a throne with His hands raised, giving thanks. A crucified man and a king.

See: TOPIC: The Shroud of Turin, called the burial cloth of Jesus.
The burial cloth of a crucified man shows both feet nailed with one stake.

Today the modern letter looks like this:

ה

“Hey” is the letter added to Abram and Sarai’s names when God changed their names to “Abraham” and “Sarah”. Genesis 17:5, Genesis 17:10, Genesis 17:15
The name change indicated the miraculous birth of the promised son “Isaac” and the covenant of circumcision.

• h87 ‘aḇrām אַבְרָם to h85 ‘aḇrāhām אַבְרָהָם
• h8297 śāray שָׂרַי to h8283 śārâ (Sarah) שָׂרָה

Psalm 40:7 (cont.) I come

• “I come” : bô’ H935
  To enter into a chamber, as the sun rises and enters its chamber above the earth, or Intercourse with a woman. Also entering into a covenant.

Psalm 40:7 (cont.) In the scroll of the book it is written of me (Prophecy).

Psalm 40:⁸ I delight to do Your will, O my God (‘ĕlōhîm),
And Your law is within my heart.”

Psalm 40:⁹ I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
In the great assembly;
Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
O Lord (Yᵊhōvâ), You Yourself know.

Psalm 40:¹⁰ I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your loving kindness and Your truth
From the great assembly.

Psalm 40:¹¹ Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord (Yᵊhōvâ);
Let Your loving kindness and Your truth continually preserve me.

Psalm 40:¹² For innumerable evils have surrounded me;

My iniquities have overtaken me – so that I am not able to look up;
They are more than the hairs of my head;
Therefore my heart fails me.

Psalm 40:¹³ Be pleased, O Lord (Yᵊhōvâ), to deliver me;
O Lord, make haste to help me!

Psalm 40:¹⁴ Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who seek to destroy my life (Lit. soul);
Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor
Who wish me evil.

Psalm 40:¹⁵ Let them be confounded because of their shame,
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!” (he’āḥ he’āḥ A saying of contempt)

Psalm 40:¹⁶ Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let such as love Your salvation (Salvation is the word “Yeshua” in Hebrew or “Jesus” in Greek) say continually,
“The Lord (Yᵊhōvâ) be magnified!”

Psalm 40:¹⁷ But I am poor and needy;
Yet the Lord (‘ăḏōnāy) thinks upon me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God (‘ĕlōhîm).

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