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Psalm 40:8 and the Other Verses of Psalm 40

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur.  The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites.  Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law.  The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  

While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2027, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2027 is during August, September, or October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2027 is first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in February, March, or April.  On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset.  The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon.  The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon.  On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verse of the day for October 21st is Psalm 40:8.  Because it is useful to study a verse in the context of the verses around it, below is content related to Psalm 40.  

Note:  Mentioned in the superscription of Psalm 40 is Jeduthun.  Jeduthun was an Israelite of the tribe of Levi.  Jeduthun was associated with music.  Jeduthunʼs involvement with music is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 5:12.  That verse is from the time when Solomon reigned over Israel.  Jeduthun also lived during the time when David reigned over Israel.  In that regard, David and Jeduthun are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 16.  Below is some relevant content from 1 Chronicles 16:1–2.  The word they in verse 1 refers to the Israelites.  

1 Chronicles 16:1

Then they bring in the Ark of 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / the Godhead and place it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offer burnt offerings and peace offerings before 'Elohiym / the Godhead.

Note:  In this verse, the uses of a present tense are references to what has occurred in the past.  Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.  

1 Chronicles 16:2

When David finishes offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blesses the people in the name of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  The use of a present tense in this verse is a reference to the past.  

Below is some relevant content from 1 Chronicles 16:7.  

1 Chronicles 16:7

Then on that day, David has first assigned by the hand of Asaph and his brothers / kinsmen / male relatives to give thanks to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Below is some relevant content from 1 Chronicles 16:37–43.  

1 Chronicles 16:37

Therefore, he leaves Asaph and his brothers / kinsmen / male relatives there before the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One to minister before the Ark continually, as every dayʼs work required, 

Note:  The use of a present tense in the phrase he leaves is a reference to the past.  

1 Chronicles 16:38

and Obed-edom with his sixty-eight brothers / kinsmen / male relatives—Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as gatekeepers,

1 Chronicles 16:39

and Zadok the priest and his brothers / kinsmen / male relatives the priests before the Tabernacle of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One in the high place which is at Gibeon,

Note:  The Tabernacle was a tent structure, one third of which was behind a veil near the back of the Tabernacle.  The section of the Tabernacle outside the veil is known as the Holy Place.  The section of the Tabernacle behind the veil is known as the Holy of Holies, the Most Holy Place, or the Holy Place inside the veil.  In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant (also known as the Ark of the Testimony).  

The below link shows the cross-shaped layout of the items in the Tabernacle and in the associated courtyard with the eastward direction pointing downward.  The opening of the courtyard and the opening of the Tabernacle both faced eastward, which is the direction where the sun rises.  With the eastward direction pointing downward, the cross-like layout can be seen from the perspective of an upright cross.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/02Exo-5.jpg

Only the high priest of Israel could enter the Holy of Holies, and he could only do so on one day per year:  the Day of Atonement.  Because the Israelites lived a nomadic lifestyle at times, the Tabernacle and the contents thereof needed to be moved.  It is unspecified in the Bible how the Tabernacle was disassembled.  When it was disassembled, the Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers.  Also, the Ark of the Covenant was carried into battle by the Israelites.  The Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers on such occasions also.  

When the Tabernacle was assembled, if anyone other than the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies, that person would die.  Likewise, if the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on any day other than the Day of Atonement, he would die.  In addition, when the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to follow specific procedures; otherwise, he would die.  Leviticus 16 covers the matter of the high priest and entering the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement.  In that regard, Mosesʼs brother Aaron was the first high priest of Israel.  Also, in Leviticus 16, the Holy of Holies is referred to as the Holy Place inside the veil.  

On the map at the below link, Gibeon is located in grid coordinate E2.  On that map, there are grid labels along the top of the map and the right side of the map.  Also, the northward direction is pointed diagonally leftward and upward on that map.  For reference, Jerusalem is also located in grid coordinate E2.  If it is difficult to find Gibeon or Jerusalem in that grid coordinate, one can more easily find them by looking slightly above the label for the Hill Country of Judah.  

https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/map7.jpg

If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/map7.jpg

1 Chronicles 16:40

to offer burnt offerings to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the Law of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, which He has commanded Israel.

1 Chronicles 16:41

With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who are chosen, who have been designated by name, to give thanks to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One because His khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love is everlasting, 

1 Chronicles 16:42

and with them—Heman and Jeduthun—trumpets and cymbals for those who sound aloud and instruments for the song of 'Elohiym / the Godhead, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.

Note:  The Hebrew noun that is translated as “trumpets” in this verse is חֲצֹצְרוֹת [pronounced khats-oh-tsehr-OWTH and can be transliterated as chatsotseroth].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word חֲצֹצְרָה [pronounced khats-oh-tsehr-AH and can be transliterated as chatsotserah].  The inflected form chatsotseroth is a plural form of chatsotserah.  

The Hebrew noun that is translated as “cymbals” in this verse is מְצִלְתַּיִם [pronounced mets-eel-TAH-yeem and can be transliterated as metsiltayiym].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word מְצֵלֶת [pronounced mets-AY-leth and can be transliterated as metseleth].  The inflected form metsiltayiym is a dual form of metseleth.  A dual form of a noun is a form that involves two people or things.  In the case of metsiltayiym, there are two cymbals.  

1 Chronicles 16:43

Then all the people depart each to his house, and David returns to bless his household.

Note:  The uses of a present tense in this verse are references to the past.  

Below is some relevant content from 2 Chronicles 5:11–14.  

2 Chronicles 5:11

When the priests come forth from the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves without regard to divisions), 

Note:  In this verse, the use of a present tense is a reference to what has occurred in the past.  Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.  

2 Chronicles 5:12

and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and brothers / kinsmen / male relatives, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets

2 Chronicles 5:13

in unison when the trumpeters and the singers are to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One and when they lift up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music and when they praise Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One:  “Certainly good—certainly, His khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love is everlasting,” then the House, the House of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, has been filled with a cloud, 

Note:  The uses of a present tense in this verse are references to the past.  

2 Chronicles 5:14

and the priests have not been able to stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has filled the House of 'Elohiym / the Godhead.

Psalm 40:1

For/To the preeminent one / the overseer / the superintendent / the director / the chief, for / with / according to Jeduthun—a Psalm of David.  

I have waited patiently/intently for Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, and He inclines to me and hears my cry for help.

Note:  Unspecified in Psalm 40 is to whom the phrase the preeminent one / the overseer / the superintendent / the director / the chief refers.  In Psalm 40:1, there is a doubling of inflected forms of a Hebrew verb.  When there is doubling of a verb in Hebrew, the action of that verb is emphasized.  In that regard, below is the content of Psalm 40:1 in Hebrew.  The Hebrew language is written and read from right to left.  There are two instances of inflected forms of the Hebrew verb קָוָה [pronounced kah-VAH and can be transliterated as qavah] in Psalm 40:1.  One instance of an inflected form of qavah is קַוֹּה [pronounced kah-VOH and can be transliterated as qavoh].  The other instance of an inflected form of qavah is קִוִּיתִי [pronounced kee-VEE-tee and can be transliterated as qiviytiy].  In order to call attention to those two inflected forms of קָוָה [qavah (kah-VAH)] in Psalm 40:1 below, קַוֹּה [qavoh (kah-VOH)] is displayed with a blue-colored font and קִוִּיתִי [qiviytiy (kee-VEE-tee)] is displayed with a red-colored font.  

Below is the pronunciation of the above two inflected forms of qavah together.  

Because the verb qavah can be used to refer to waiting, the doubling of inflected forms of qavah in the form of qavoh followed by qiviytiy indicates that David was very much waiting.  Davidʼs doubling of inflected forms of the verb qavah and Davidʼs use of the phrase my cry for help are indicators that David was emotional when he wrote Psalm 40.  This is David the giant-slayer.  Even though David was a giant-slayer, David still became emotional.  In addition, even though David was a giant-slayer, David still recognized his need to depend on God the Father.  In that regard, rather than David succumbing to a temptation to become emotionally despondent, David directed his emotions by means of a prayer to God the Father.  

Psalm 40:2

He brings me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the mire, and He sets my feet upon a rock.  He has established my footsteps.

Note:  The reference to established footsteps is a reference to firm footing.  In that regard, the content of this verse involves metaphors to indicate that God the Father takes care of the challenges that David encounters.  

Psalm 40:3

He puts a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead.  Many see/perceive and yare' [yah-RAY] / יָרֵא / fear / respect / revere / reverence and trust in Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  The word Godhead refers to the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit].  David gives credit to God the Father causing to come to Davidʼs mind the ideas for a song that David composed and sang.  Given the context of David having just mentioned God the Father taking care of the challenges that David encounters and David singing a new song of praise to the Trinity, it is logical to conclude that people either see or somehow become aware of David being delivered and of David singing.  In that regard, the deliverance of David and Davidʼs positive response toward the Trinity led to other people respecting and trusting in God the Father.  By way of application, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can be encouraged when they learn about God the Father taking care of another believerʼs challenges and when they learn about that other believer having a positive response toward the Trinity.  

Psalm 40:4

How blessed is / How happy is / O the blessednesses of / O the happinesses of the man who has made Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One his trust and has not turned aside to the proud nor to those who turn aside to falsehood.

Note:  In this verse, the Hebrew noun that is translated as “How blessed is,” “How happy is,” “O the blessednesses of,” “O the happinesses of” is אַשְׁרֵי [pronounced ahsh-RAY and can be transliterated as 'ashre].  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  That noun is an inflected form of the root word אֶשֶׁר [pronounced EH-shehr and can be transliterated as 'esher].  The inflected form 'ashre is a plural form of 'esher.  The inflected form 'ashre is used as an exclamation in this verse.  In that regard, it is used to exclaim that a believer who has made Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One that believerʼs trust and has not turned aside to the proud nor to those who turn aside to falsehood is blessed/happy.  Turning aside to falsehood refers to habitually deceiving.  

A believer who puts that believerʼs trust in someone who is proud or someone who habitually deceives is a believer who turns aside from trusting in God the Father to trusting in one or more sinners.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ who puts that believerʼs trust in someone who is proud will miss out on some blessing and happiness.  Likewise, a believer who puts that believerʼs trust in someone who habitually deceives will miss out on some blessing and happiness.  

The fallen angel Satan is a malicious liar.  Satan is also known as the devil.  Satan distorts the truth, mixing lies with it; the resultant mixtures are lies.  Also, Satan can be subtle in his distortions.  Likewise, other malicious liars can distort the truth by mixing lies with it and can be subtle in their distortions.  

The habitual deceiving referenced in Psalm 40:4 is different from deceiving in order to protect the innocent.  In contrast to the focus of the content of Psalm 40:4, the content of Joshua 2 covers the matter of two Israelite spies in the land of Canaan being protected by the woman Rahab at Jericho.  In order to protect those innocent Israelites, Rahab hid them and lied to people who were working for the king of Jericho.  Rahab thereby deceived those people who were working for the king of Jericho.  In that regard, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of Rahab for engaging in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.  

The content of 2 Samuel 15:31–37 and the content of 2 Samuel 17:14–16 cover the matter of King Davidʼs friend Hushai deceiving Davidʼs evil son Absalom and people who supported Absalom in his revolution against David.  The content of 2 Samuel 15:31–36 covers David requesting that Hushai engage in that deception.  The content of 2 Samuel 15:37 and the content of 2 Samuel 17:14–15 cover Hushai engaging in that deception.  The content of 2 Samuel 17:16 covers the matter of that deception being for the purpose of protecting the innocent.  In that regard, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of Hushai for engaging in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.  Likewise, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of David for requesting that Hushai engage in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.  

The content of 2 Samuel 17:17–22 covers the matter of a woman protecting two men who were working for David in Davidʼs struggle against Davidʼs evil son Absalom and the people who supported Absalom in his revolution against David.  In order to protect those innocent men, the woman hid them and lied to servants of Absalom.  That woman thereby deceived those servants of Absalom.  In that regard, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of that woman for engaging in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.  

In contrast to the aforementioned examples of people attempting to deceive in order to try to protect the innocent, Satanʼs attempts to deceive are motivated by selfishness.  Satan is a narcissist.  Other narcissists are also motivated by selfishness.  

Regarding believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and the matter of trying to deceive, if a believer who is trying to deceive is motivated by selfishness, then that believer is sinning.  If one is unable to determine whether one is being selfish while engaging in deception, one can analyze whether one feels content or discontent.  Another way to determine whether one is being selfish while engaging in deception is to analyze whether circumstances beyond oneʼs control are occurring and whether those circumstances are discipline from God the Son.  God the Father does the planning, and God the Son carries out the plans of God the Father.  If one is uncertain whether one is being selfish while engaging in deception, then one should refrain from engaging in that particular deception.  Also, in such a case, one should—in accordance with 1 John 1:9—confess/acknowledge to God the Father that engaging in deception:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  While a believer might be uncertain about whether or not something that that believer thinks, says, or does is a sin, if that believer confesses/acknowledges to God the Father what that believer thought, said, or did, and if what that believer thought, said, or did was indeed a sin, God the Father will forgive that believer for what that believer confessed/acknowledged to God the Father, and God the Father will forgive that believer for all of those of the believerʼs unconfessed post-salvation sins that are unknown to that believer.  The phrase and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness in 1 John 1:9 references God the Father forgiving a believerʼs unconfessed post-salvation sins that are unknown to that believer when that believer confesses/acknowledges to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins.  

Regarding deception motivated by selfishness, below is a link to a list of deception-related words that are in the Bible.  The list contains thirty-seven words.  Twenty-four of those words are in the Old Testament, and thirteen of those words are in the New Testament.  

https://www.BlueLetterBible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=decei&t=NASB95&lexcSt=2#s=s_lexiconc

At the above link, the Hebrew noun that is translated as “falsehood” in Psalm 40:4 is listed with the Strongʼs number H3577.  The word Strongʼs refers to Strongʼs Concordance.  That concordance is a list of words of the Bible.  Each word in Strongʼs Concordance has a number associated with it.  The Hebrew noun translated as “falsehood” in Psalm 40:4 is כָזָֽב [pronounced khah-ZAHB and can be transliterated as chazab].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word כָּזָב [pronounced kah-ZAHB and can be transliterated as kazab].  

The content of Psalm 40:4 is repeated below for reference.  

Psalm 40:4

How blessed is / How happy is / O the blessednesses of / O the happinesses of the man who has made Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One his trust and has not turned aside to the proud nor to those who turn aside to falsehood.

Psalm 40:5

Many, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One my 'Elohiym/Godhead, are the wonders which You have done and Your thoughts toward us.  None can be arranged in order before You.  If I declare and speak of them, they have been too numerous to count.

Note:  In this verse, the Hebrew noun translated as “None” is אֵ֤ין [pronounced AYN and can be transliterated as 'en].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word אִין [pronounced EEN and can be transliterated as 'in].  The Hebrew verb translated as “can be arranged in order” in this verse is עֲרֹ֬ךְ [pronounced ah-ROHK and can be transliterated as 'arok].  That verb is an inflected form of the root word עָרַךְ [pronounced ah-RAHK and can be transliterated as 'arak].  The context of the content of this verse is such that the combination of 'en and 'arok refers to people being unable to compose an organized list of all of the wonders which God the Father has done and all of the thoughts that God the Father has had toward the Israelites.  

The phrase before You in this verse calls attention to the omniscience [ahm-NISH-uhns] [all-knowingness] of God the Father.  Davidʼs usage of that phrase after the phrase None can be arranged in order contrasts the omniscience of God the Father with the perceptive capacity of people.  In that regard, peopleʼs perceptive capacity falls woefully short of omniscience.  Regarding the foregoing, David exhibited humility by expressing awe regarding the wonders which God the Father has done and the thoughts that God the Father has had toward the Israelites, and David exhibited humility by indicating that he is unable to count all of the wonders which God the Father has done and all of the thoughts that God the Father has had toward the Israelites.  

Psalm 40:6

Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired.  My ears You have opened/dug.  Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.

Note:  Regarding offerings, now that that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled; therefore, people should refrain from sacrificing animals because such sacrifices have been invalidated by the Lord Jesus Christʼs fulfilling of the Mosaic Law when He received the judgment for the sins of humanity.  The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites.  Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law.  

In this verse, David is indicating that he recognizes that God the Father wants obedience of the Word of God rather than people superficially making sacrifices while disobeying the Word of God—in other words, God the Father is displeased by ritual without reality.  Regarding the second sentence of this verse, the Hebrew verb translated as “opened” or “dug” is כָּרִיתָ [pronounced kah-REE-tah and can be transliterated as karita].  That verb is an inflected form of the root word כָּרָה [pronounced kah-RAH and can be transliterated as karah'].  In that regard, the reference to the opening/digging of ears in this verse is different from the boring/piercing of an ear that is referenced in Exodus 21:5–6 and Deuteronomy 15:16–17.  The content of Exodus 21:5–6 and the content of Deuteronomy 15:16–17 involve a person voluntarily remaining someone elseʼs slave and indicating his or her acceptance of that status by allowing his or her master to pierce his or her ear with an awl while at a door or doorpost.  In that regard, the content of Exodus 21:5–6 and the content of Deuteronomy 15:16–17 involve different verbs than the verb karah'.  Also, the content of Exodus 21:5–6 and the content of Deuteronomy 15:16–17 involve a single ear rather than both ears.  Regarding those distinctions, the content of Psalm 40:6 involves something other than David focusing on himself being a slave of God the Father.  Based on the context provided by the first and third sentences of this verse, it is logical to conclude that the second sentence of this verse is a metaphor involving the digging out of both of Davidʼs ears so as to open them such that David could hear clearly.  That metaphorical reference to the opening of Davidʼs ears so that David could hear clearly is a reference to David being able to understand that God the Father is displeased by ritual without reality.  

Regarding ritual without reality, there can be church congregations containing people who pretend to be righteous when those people disobey the Word of God.  Such people might sing hymns and hear Bible lessons and participate in Communion services but disobey the Word of God.  Such people are doing ritual without reality.  

The references to superficial pretenses of serving God the Father at the beginning and end of Psalm 40:6 reveal the need to be in fellowship with the Trinity.  During the Church Age, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ who tries to worship the Trinity while out of fellowship with the Trinity is doing ritual without reality.  In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

With regard to the Church Age, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations.  In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn].  This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity.  The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis].  After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights.  He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected.  He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2027.  

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m.  In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word.  The formation of the word judgment is shown below.  

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations.  Civilizations begin only with believers.  Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood).  That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization.  In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood.  Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.  

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth:  Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives.  With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started.  That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization).  Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood.  Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial.  The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth.  Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood.  This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent.  The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.  

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire.  That civilization is called the Millennium.  The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation.  The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.  

While some believers had empowerment from God the Holy Spirit before the Day of Pentecost, such empowerment was available only to a limited number of people and for specific purposes.  That empowerment before the Day of Pentecost is known as enduement.  Enduement involves differences from the filling of God the Holy Spirit which occurs in the Church Age.  When a believer who had enduement sinned, once that believer confessed that believerʼs sins to God the Father, that believer needed to pray to God the Father for the enduement to be restored.  In contrast, once a Church Age believer commits a sin after salvation, after that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit is restored.  

The content of Psalm 40:6 is repeated below for reference.  

Psalm 40:6

Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired.  My ears You have opened/dug.  Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.

Psalm 40:7

Then I have said, “Behold, I have come.  In the scroll of the book it is written concerning me.

Note:  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is what scroll of what book David is referencing in this verse.  Also, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether David is indicating something written that references David or whether David is indicating something written that indicates what David is supposed to do.  Regardless of the foregoing, David indicates in this verse and the next verse that David has come to do the will of God the Father.  In that regard, David is making a metaphorical reference to coming to the Tabernacle to do sacrifices.  That metaphor represents David being willing to obey the Word of God.  

Psalm 40:8

I have delighted to do Your will, O my 'Elohiym/Godhead.  Your Law is within my heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  David was delighted to do God the Fatherʼs will, and David had the Word of God in Davidʼs thinking.  

Psalm 40:9

I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation.  Behold, I do not restrain my lips—O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, You have known.

Note:  In this verse, the phrase great congregation refers to the Israelites of Davidʼs time period.  

Psalm 40:10

I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart.  I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your deliverance/salvation.  I have not concealed Your khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love and Your truth from the great congregation.

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  In that regard, rather than David keeping his thoughts regarding the Word of God to himself, David shared with others information from the Word of God.  

Psalm 40:11

You, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, do not withhold Your compassion from me.  Your khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love and Your truth continually preserve me.

Psalm 40:12

Certainly, evils/calamities/harms/troubles beyond number have surrounded me.  My iniquities have overtaken me so that I have not been able to see.  They have been more numerous than the hairs of my head, and my heart has forsaken / left / failed me.

Note:  In this verse, David references external and internal pressures.  Regarding external pressures, David refers to the evils/calamities/harms/troubles from which he has suffered as being too numerous for David to count.  He also refers to those evils/calamities/harms/troubles by means of a metaphor involving those evils/calamities/harms/troubles surrounding David.  

Regarding internal pressures, David references his sins.  In that regard, he metaphorically calls attention to the quantity of sins that he has committed by indicating that that quantity of sins is more than the number of hairs on Davidʼs head.  Also, he indicates that he has been discouraged because of his sinning.  In that regard, the heart refers to the mind.  Regarding Davidʼs reference to being unable to see, it is possible that that is a metaphorical reference to David being so consumed by guilt that David is unable to focus on anything other than the sins that he has committed.  

Psalm 40:13

Be pleased, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, to deliver me.  Make haste, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, to help me.

Psalm 40:14

They are ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life [or soul] to destroy it.  They are turned back and dishonored who are delighting in / desiring my hurt/calamity/harm/trouble.

Psalm 40:15

They are stunned / stupefied / astonished because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

Note:  In this verse, the Hebrew interjection translated as “Aha” is הֶאָח [pronounced heh-AHKH and can be transliterated as Heach].  Likewise, the Hebrew interjection translated as “aha” in this verse is הֶאָח [pronounced heh-AHKH and can be transliterated as heach].  Regarding the foregoing, there were opponents of David who very much tried to find satisfaction from evils/calamities/harms/troubles from which David has suffered.  Instead of being satisfied, those opponents of David were stunned / stupefied / astonished because of David being delivered by God the Father.  

Psalm 40:16

All who seek You rejoice and are glad in You.  Those who love Your deliverance/salvation say continually, “Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is great!”

Note:  The seeking referenced in this verse refers to believers who want to learn about God the Father.  Also, David calls attention to believers who appreciate being delivered by God the Father giving glory to God the Father.  

Psalm 40:17

Also, I am afflicted and needy.  'Adonay [add-oh-NIGH] / The Lord is mindful of me.  You are my Help and my Deliverer.  Do not delay, O my 'Elohiym/Godhead.

Note:  David finishes this psalm with a focus on David needing help and deliverance from the Trinity.  

Sincerely,

John