There is an old expression that says humans can be our own worst enemy. It means that we are responsible for the trouble in our own lives. We see this with the Israelites throughout history. The sons of Jacob complained continually about the situations that they put themselves in. Over and over they did exactly what Yahweh told them not to do. They complained about Joseph being prophetic and sold him as a slave. They complained about being slaves in Egypt. They complained about being free in the desert. They didn’t like the food, they didn’t like wandering, they didn’t like fighting, they didn’t like walking, they especially didn’t want to hear from Yahweh himself. Then they changed who they worshipped while Moses was on the mountain talking to Yahweh for them. We could go on.
The Messiah was prophesied, which should have given everyone hope, but when he actually came, exactly on time as prophesied, they didn’t like him. The religious leaders then obstructed the scriptures so that no one would believe on Jesus Messiah. Not only did they subvert their own salvation and redemption, but they altered the scriptures so that the whole world would potentially not believe on Jesus. While Christians have found their way to belief in Jesus Messiah, with all the old testament scriptural alterations, the Jews are in a pickle. They reject Jesus and will die in their sin.
David was one of a handful of people who had a personal relationship with Yahweh, as everyone should. Yet life wasn’t smooth sailing for David. He had a mission as a giant slayer, and he struggled with physical battles, emotional stressors, and spiritual warfare. Instead of shooting himself in the foot, or being his own worst enemy, David did something we can all learn from, he waited on Yahweh with confidence and steadfastness. Let’s explore David’s song.
Psalms 40:0 G1519 To G3588 the G5056 director; G5568 a psalm G3588 to G* David.
“Into the fulfillment the David psalm.”
This is a song into the fulfillment or completion. It is applicable through the ages and administrations through to the fulfillment of the six thousand years before the millennial kingdom. There have been six thousand years of spiritual battles on the earth between humans and principalities, powers, spiritual wickedness, and the world ruler of darkness. David had some suggestions for us.
Psalms 40:1 G5278 Enduring, G5278 I waited G3588 on the G2962 lord, G2532 and G4337 he took heed G1473 to me, G2532 and G1522 he heard G3588 G1162 my supplication. G1473
“Remain, remained, the Yahweh and pay attention me and hearken the prayer my.”
David is waiting on Yahweh. This is encouragement to remain steady and keep praying. Yahweh hears us, he knows where we are. He knows everything about us, including the future. We can trust that He will take care of us.
Psalms 40:2 G2532 And G321 he led G1473 me G1537 from out of G2978.1 the pit G5004 of misery, G2532 and G575 from G4081 the mud G2437.1 of slime. G2532 And G2476 he stood G1909 [2upon G4073 3 the rock G3588 G4228 1my feet], G1473 G2532 and G2720 straightened out G3588 G1226.1 my footsteps. G1473
“And bring out me from out of pit calamity away from clay silt and make to stand upon rock the foot my and make straight the steps my”
The pit of calamity with clay silt sounds like a place we can get stuck, yet Yahweh will make us stand upon a rock, and give us straight steps. One mistake we make when we are under spiritual attack is that we try to make big life changes to stop the attack. We react in panic instead of remaining, waiting, and staying steadfast in prayer. The worst time to make big decisions is when we are under spiritual pressure. Another mistake we make is to complain throughout the spiritual attack. David suggests that we sing praise and worship.
Psalms 40:3 G2532 And G1685 he put G1519 into G3588 G4750 my mouth G1473 G779.1 [2song G2537 1a new], G5215 a hymn G3588 to G2316 our God. G1473 G3708 [2shall see G4183 1Many], G2532 and G5399 shall fear, G2532 and G1679 shall hope G1909 upon G2962 the lord .
“And throw into the mouth my chant new hymn the Elohim my to see many and frighten and hope for upon Yahweh”
This is a song for Yahweh’s people, all of his people. The idea of fear or being frightened is a wake up to Yahweh’s people. Understand, this is not to cower in fear, afraid of Yahweh, it is for us to become fearful of our bad behaviors in front of Yahweh. If every time we are under spiritual pressure we cry and complain as if Yahweh doesn’t hear us and doesn’t answer prayer, then we are behaving like children.
1 Corinthians 10:9 We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did—and were killed by poisonous serpents; [Num. 21:5, 6.]
10 Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did—and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death). [Num. 16:41, 49.]
11 Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period).
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].
13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.
The Amplified Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987), 1 Co 10:9–13.
The word complain is gogguzō, which means “murmuring or grumbling”. Different translations use slightly different words. The Israelites were put out by the destroyer for their complaining. Ouch! The ISV makes this a bit more clear.
1Pe 4:9 (ISV) Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
Php 2:14 (ISV) Do everything without complaining or arguing
Php 2:15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, God's children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world
This is our admonition. Do everything without complaining so that we can be blameless and innocent, and that we can shine like stars in the world.
It would seem that he Jews were expert complainers. They were not happy through the Exodus, through their own wanderings, and settling into their own appointed land. Then they wanted a king and complained until Samuel anointed Saul. They got another king, who Samuel also anointed but they weren’t all that fond of David. They complained about Yahweh’s Laws as well, but they also didn’t like the consequences of their own actions. We have to change our minds and our hearts and not be complainers. Instead we should worship, praise, and hope in Yahweh’s perfect plan for our lives.
Psalms 40:4 G3107 Blessed is G435 the man G3739 of which G1510.2.3 [2is G3588 3in the G3686 4name G2962 5 of the lord G1680 1his hope], G1473 G2532 and G3756 did not G1914 look G1519 to G3153 follies G2532 and G3130 [2frenzies G5571 1false].
“Blessed human this is the name Yahweh hope his and no not look upon into unreality and deceitful raving madness.”
We are blessed when Yahweh is our hope. David’s warning is not to look on nonsense. Today we have a lot of unreality on television and social media. We also have a lot of deceitful raving madness everywhere we look. The secret sins of Hollywood celebrities and politicians are their prison chains, so that they do what they have to, to keep their deceit and raving sexual madness a secret. In reality there is no such thing as a secret, someone always knows, including Jesus Messiah.
When we are under spiritual assault, we might not want to take a mental break watching unreality or deceitful raving madness. Instead we can focus our mental energy on praise and worship and it might be that Yahweh will give us a song as he did David. Staying quiet is better than filling time with the world’s insanity. Spiritual attacks always pass. Stand tall.
Psalms 40:5 G4183 Many things G4160 you did G1473 yourself, G2962 O lord G3588 G2316 my God, G1473 G3588 concerning G2297 your wonders; G1473 G2532 and G3588 concerning G1261 your devices G1473 G3756 there is not G1510.2.3 G5100 any G3666 that shall be likened G1473 to you. G518 I reported G2532 and G2980 spoke -- G4129 they were multiplied G5228 above G706 number.
“Many you manufacture Yahweh the Elohim my the wonders your and the calculations your no not exist any one compare you. I recited and talk to increase above number.”
When we move our attention to Yahweh our Elohim we will see His wonders and His calculations. We can then share our insights with others to encourage them as well. We can look back at the hard time we faced and see Yahweh’s calculations and how his plan unfolded in marvel and wonder. Calculations are “reasonings, thoughts, and considerations”, dialogismos. Then we share our story with others. After the test we have a testimony to share.
David takes a shift here from singing about our actions, to the prophetic of the coming Messiah. David knew that he would come, and his song is a reflection of the Messiah. How can anyone ignore this as Jesus is the only one who accomplished these prophecies.
Psalms 40:6 G2378 A sacrifice G2532 and G4376 offering G3756 you wanted not, G2309 G4983 but a body G1161 G2675 you readied G1473 to me; G3646 whole burnt-offerings G2532 and G4012 a sacrifice for G266 sin G3756 you did not G2212 seek.
“A sacrifice and offering no not desire an earlobe but downward fitted me a whole burnt offering (holocaust offering, wholly consumed) and concerning sin no not ask.”
A burnt offering is also called a “holocaust offering”. The shame of this is that there are people who still prefer animal sacrifices to Jesus Messiah who is our perfect sacrifice.
Hebrews (AMP) 10:4 Because the blood of bulls and goats is powerless to take sins away.
The blood of animals was only a covering, not an erasing of sin. David is telling us about the Messiah. Yahweh doesn’t desire an earlobe, which would be a sign that one is owned by Yahweh. Yahweh instead made a body for the Messiah, ready for sacrificing. Yahweh also made a way for us to be an offering without being killed and burnt. We are living sacrifices.
Romans 12 :1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
The Amplified Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987), Ro 12:1–2.
Our dedication to take up our cross and follow Him is our laying down of our lives as living sacrifices.
Psalms 40:7 G5119 Then G2036 I said, G2400 Behold, G2240 I come. G1722 In G2777 the chapter G975 of the scroll G1125 it is written G4012 concerning G1473 me.
“Then I said behold I hear in scroll papyrus roll written concerning me.”
Who is the entire Bible written about? Yahweh Jesus Messiah. From Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 the subject is our Savior, our Deliver, our Redeemer, who saves, delivers, and redeems us. While we know this to be true, there are alterations to our text made between 300-600 AD by a group of rabbis who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, which continues to hijack the salvation of Yahweh’s people.
Psalms 40:8 G3588 G4160 To do G3588 G2307 your will, G1473 G3588 O G2316 my God G1473 G1014 I wanted; G2532 and G3588 G3551 your law G1473 G1722 is in G3319 the midst G3588 G2836 of my belly. G1473
“The make the will your the Elohim my intend and the Mosaic Law your in middle the my belly.”
Jesus did the will of the Father, and he was filled with the Mosaic law. He completed the law, being the perfect lamb of God sacrificed for us. The Pharisees and religious leaders didn’t like Jesus. They complained that he healed on the Sabbath. They complained that the blind could see. They complained when demons came out of people. They complained that he exposed Satanas. They complained that he revealed the Father to the common people. They complained he had spiritual abilities they didn’t have. They murdered him via the Romans with political maneuvering to make it look as if they didn’t have any part in his death. Jesus came to free God’s people while the Pharisees enslaved people.
Hebrews (AMP) 10:5 Hence, when He [Christ] entered into the world, He said, Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but instead You have made ready a body for Me [to offer];
6 In burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no delight.
7 Then I said, Behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O God—[to fulfill] what is written of Me in the volume of the Book. [Ps. 40:6-8.]
8 When He said just before, You have neither desired, nor have You taken delight in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings—all of which are offered according to the Law—
9 He then went on to say, Behold, [here] I am, coming to do Your will. Thus He does away with and annuls the first (former) order [as a means of expiating sin] so that He might inaugurate and establish the second (latter) order. [Ps. 40:6-8.]
The writer of Hebrews was a companion of Paul, an Essene that Paul knew from his fourteen years of schooling in the desert. His writing style is very different, intellectual, and scholarly as if this person had many years of schooling. Quoting David here he makes the case that Jesus is our sacrifice offering, and our high priest who entered into the holy of holies once for all. It is now up to us to receive his atonement and deliverance with our confession of Jesus as Lord and Messiah and believing he rose up on the third day.
Hebrews (AMP) 10:10 And in accordance with this will [of God], we have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)
The Amplified Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987), Heb 10:4–10.
What could we possibly complain about? Someone gave us a gift that we can now accept or reject. The price for sin was paid for by Jesus Messiah, now we can choose to accept Him or reject Him, but for two thousand years Jesus has touched the hearts and lives of millions of people worldwide, not wishing that any should perish. He gives us a chance to make that decision. If the Masoretes hadn’t altered the prophecies of the old covenant, there would be more heirs of Jacob saved, and spirit filled. Today we have the technology to uncover their alterations. Isn’t this good news?
David shifts again back to himself and us. We are to talk about our Savior and Lord.
Psalms 40:9 G2097 I announced good news -- G1343 righteousness G1722 in G1577 [2assembly G3173 1 the great]. G2400 Behold, G3588 G5491 [3my lips G1473 G3766.2 1in no way G2967 2should I restrain], G2962 O lord, G1473 you G1097 know.
“Announce good news justification in great ekklesia (church/assembly) behold the lips my no not me hinder Yahweh you come to know.”
Announce this gospel, the good news, the euaggelizō. Who wants to die in their sin? Of course this is good news. The exception to this is if one is in a cult that rejects Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Any group altering scripture to fit their own narrative is a cult because it has altered the truth to make certain aspects of its’ foundation a lie, thereby enslaving the unsuspecting people with their lies. Those who promote it are cult leaders. It is time for people to come out of the cult of Jesus rejection. Let the dead arise to life in Christ. This is the announcement in the ekklesia, the church or the assembly.
Psalms 40:10 G3588 G1343 My righteousness G1473 G3756 I hid not G2928 G1722 in G3588 G2588 my heart; G1473 G3588 G225 your truth G1473 G2532 and G3588 G4992 your deliverance G1473 G2036 I told; G3756 I hid not G2928 G3588 G1656 your mercy G1473 G2532 and G3588 G225 your truth G1473 G575 from G4864 the gathering G4183 of many.
“The righteousness your in the no not conceal the heart my the truth your and the salvation your I said no not conceal the compassion your and the truth your away from synagogue (sunagōgē, assembly) many.
We can also testify of Yahweh’s righteousness, his deliverance, his compassion, and his truth to the world, not just to our own little group of believers in the synagogue. David just prophesied of the Messiah to which the writer of Hebrews determined to be Jesus. Now it is time to bring the heirs of Jacob home to Yahweh Elohim.
Psalms 40:11 G1473 But you, G1161 G2962 O lord, G3361 [2should not be G3118.2 3far G3588 G3628 1your compassions] G1473 G575 from G1473 me. G3588 G1656 Your mercy G1473 G2532 and G3588 G225 your truth, G1473 G1275 [2always G482 1may they] take hold of G1473 me.
“But you Yahweh me distant the pity your away from me the compassion your and the truth your by means of all understanding my.”
With an open heart to Yahweh he will not be distant, but his pity and compassion for all of us, even if we have rejected him for many years, brings us into His sheepfold. May his mercy and truth always take hold of us.
This brings us to the imprecatory portion of David’s song. We have to recognize that if we are living for Christ all the powers of darkness will come against us. Life will not be easy once we lay our lives down for Him, in fact quite the contrary. We will have to battle people who are influenced by demons, people who are led by Satanas, and the host of evil fallen sons of Elohim. There is no easy life, there is only an easy path to death.
Matthew 7:12 So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets.
13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. [Deut. 30:19; Jer. 21:8.]
The Amplified Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987), Mt 7:12–14.
No one can make promises that life will be calm waters with the wind at our backs once we confess Jesus as Messiah, but we will have the tools we need to fight the battles we will face. It is in the wondrous realizations of who He is, and looking back at his calculations and reasonings for how he led us, that we can celebrate with others. Looking back at how our enemies were subdued is an excellent reminder of who is all knowing and who is not.
Psalms 40:12 G3754 For G4023 [2compass G1473 3me G2556 1bad things] G3739 which G3756 there is no G1510.2.3 G706 number. G2638 [2overtook G1473 3me G3588 G458 1My lawless deeds], G1473 G2532 and G3756 I was not able G1410 G3588 G991 to see. G4129 They were multiplied G5228 over G3588 the G2359 hairs G3588 G2776 of my head; G1473 G2532 and G3588 G2588 my heart G1473 G1459 abandoned G1473 me.
“That surround me bad this no not is total downward oversee me the lawlessness my and no not able the perceive increase over the hair the head my and the heart my abandon me.”
There is no total or number that explains how many evil beings encompass us. Sometimes it seems overwhelming. This is the point where we want to hold steady and not sin. When enemies surround us is not the time to fall into old sinful behaviors. However this is what generally happens to everyone. Do not soak in unreality, or deceitful raving madness. The spiritual enemies will multiply and our heart will faint. Instead, soak in worship and praise. Soak in Him.
To understand this principal better, we have to realize that sin opens the gates of our lives to evil beings. Not just the ones enticing us but to others demons as well. Then we become more burdened than we were to start with. This is why the principle of leading every thought captive to the obedience of Christ is so very important. When we are under spiritual pressure it is not the time to make big decisions or changes. Do not cut your own hair, it never goes well. Just stay steady. Wait patiently. The spiritual attack will subside. In the meantime, sing, dance, and rejoice in Jesus Messiah.
Psalms 40:13 G2106 Think well, G2962 O lord, G3588 G4506 to rescue G1473 me! G2962 O lord, G1519 [2to G3588 G997 3help G1473 4me G4337 1take heed]!
“Think it good Yahweh the rush to me Yahweh into the help (boētheō) me attend.
A boēthos is someone to call on from God, which is what Eve is called, and was her purpose for the adam. Jesus is also called a boētheō. Who would want to hide this information from us? Who would want people to live their whole lives not knowing we have someone to call on from the Elohim? This is another reason why the Masoretic alterations harm so many people, even today. David asks for Yahweh to rescue him and to attend to him. This is how we deal with the warfare we are faced with.
Psalms 40:14 G2617 May [5be disgraced G2532 6and G1788 7feel shame G260 8together G3588 1the ones G2212 2seeking G3588 G5590 3my life G1473 G3588 G1808 4to lift it away]. G1473 G654 May they be turned back G1519 to G3588 the G3694 rear, G2532 and G1788 may [4feel shame G3588 1the ones G2309 2wanting G1473 3bad things for me]. G2556
“Disgrace and turn to confusion at the same time the seek the soul my life the remove him turn away into the backwards and turn to confusion the desire me evil.”
Now David prays against his enemies. Turn them to confusion, disgrace them, turn them backwards, and turn them to confusion who desire evil on him. David is sending this curse against his enemies who want to kill him. David knows he has a mission but he is not so cocky that he just walks around as if he is untouchable. Yahweh gave David a mission, and David has to complete it, with his own ability and Yahweh’s direction. While on the one hand we know Yahweh will protect David, on the other hand we also know that sin allows Satanas to have accusation against us. David prays so he can continue serving Yahweh and not die at the hands of his enemies.
Psalms 40:15 G2865 Let them carry G3916 immediately G152 their shame -- G1473 G3588 the G3004 ones saying G1473 to me, G2103.1 Well done. G2103.1 well done.
“Provide for instantly dishonor his the speaking well done well done.”
The people inspired by demons were happy about David’s setbacks and struggles. They rejoiced in his hinderances. David calls for their shame. In our culture shame is not as powerful a deterrent for bad behavior as it was back then. People in David’s time regarded their own personal integrity as important. Today people are happy to lie, cheat, and steal, out in the open, without any concern that their integrity will suffer. They simply do not care.
Psalms 40:16 G21 [5exult G2532 6and G2165 7are glad G1909 8over G1473 9you G3956 1All G3588 2the ones G2212 3seeking G1473 4you], G2962 O lord . G2532 And G2036 let [5say G1275 4always G3170 6let the lord be magnified G3588 G2962 G3588 1the ones G25 2loving G3588 G4992 3your deliverance]! G1473
“They jumped for joy and delighted over you all the seek you Yahweh and they suffered on account of all to make great the Yahweh the love the your salvation”
David uses the expression to “jump for joy” quite often in the Psalms. He really means it. Jump for Joy! All the ones seeking Yahweh, jump for joy. The ones seeking Yahweh suffer to make Yahweh great. They love His salvation. There is nothing new under the sun. The ones seeking and suffering for Yahweh do it because His love and salvation are worth it. Jump for joy.
Psalms 40:17 G1473 But I G1161 G4434 am poor G1510.2.1 G2532 and G3993 needy; G2962 the lord G5431 will be thoughtful G1473 of me. G998 [2my helper G1473 G2532 3and G5231.5 4my defender G1473 G1510.2.2 1You are], G1473 G3588 O G2316 my God, G1473 G3361 you should not G5549 delay.
“But I poor am and starving Yahweh consider me my helper (boēthos) and my defender you are the my Elohim not tarry.”
David considers himself poor and starving. He asks Yahweh to be his helper and defender. David declares Yahweh is his Elohim and asks him not to tarry or delay. David understands that before Yahweh we are all poor and starving. Poor because we need eternal treasures for the future, not the material treasures on earth. He also says that he is starving. David is not hungry, but starving for Yahweh Elohim. He is desperately hungry. So what does he do? He remains. We remain. Wait on Yahweh. Stay hungry, and do not fill up on unreality and deceitful raving madness.
When we see this song we understand that David’s writing into the fulfillment is for us today as well as the generations before us. We learn how to deal with spiritual battles. We are reminded not to complain. We are reminded of Jesus Messiah the complete sacrifice for sin. We are shown imprecations. We are also told to testify, sing, praise, worship, and jump for joy. If one is attending a religious group that does not encompass singing, praising, worshipping, and jumping for joy, we have to ask, why not? Our announcements of the good news should be joyful, and our testimonies of success should be an encouragement to the ekklesia. It is time to stop being our own worst enemy, and live the way David suggests, as living sacrifices with a new chant and hymn in our mouth for Yahweh Elohim.
