Psalm 40:6-10 - "I Delight to Do Your Will"

In the first five verses of this Psalm, David gives us a beautiful example of why and how we should praise the LORD for all that He has done for us. The LORD lifts us up out of the horrible pit and miry clay and sets our feet on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ! When this happens, we have a new song to sing in praise and worship of our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now in verses 6-10, David moves from the rock, and he goes to the sanctuary of God. After all God had done for David, how could the king express to the Lord his appreciation for His mercies? He knows that he could bring sacrifices to the altar, as was required under Old Testament Law.  But David knew that wasn't God's first desire. This doesn't mean that such sacrifices were wrong, or that God didn't want His people to offer them, but that God wanted their hearts first of all. Throughout the Old Testament, the Lord made it clear that He could not accept sacrifices unless the worshiper showed sincere devotion, dedication, and obedience. No doubt David heard how Saul learned that important lesson after a victory over the Amalekites. Saul made excuses for his disobedience by saying he kept the animals for sacrifices.  But remember Samuel told Saul, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).   The Old Testament is full of verses that repeat this important truth (See Psalm 50:8-15; 51:16-17; Prov. 21:3; Isa. 1:11-17; Jer. 7:22-23; Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:6-8). In the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament we are taught this same lesson. “So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." (Mark 12:32-33). In verse 6, sacrifice means any animal whose blood was offered at the altar, followed by a communal meal. Offering refers to the meal offering that could accompany the sacrifices, and the burnt offering symbolized total dedication to the Lord. The sin offering was given to cover specific offenses and bring reconciliation between the offender and God. All of these were fulfilled in Jesus Christ whose sacrifice on the cross satisfied the justice of God once and for all, for time and eternity (Lev. 1-7; Heb. 10:1-17). “My ears You have opened", refer to David’s readiness to hear and obey God's will (1 Sam. 9:15; 20:2; Isa. 48:8; 50:4-5; Matt. 13:9, 43; Acts 7:51, 57). The passage is paraphrased in Hebrews 10:5-10 as "a body you have prepared for me,".  This is the body in which Messiah served the Father here on earth. An open ear means a yielded will and a surrendered body. When the heart delights in God's law, the will has no problem obeying (119:11; Deut. 6:6; 11:18; Prov. 3:3, 7:3; Jer. 31:33). "Behold, I come", means "Here I am, ready to obey" (see 1 Sam. 3:4, 6,8; Isa. 6:8). This of course is a prophecy of Jesus the Messiah coming to earth to be the sacrifice for our sins in a human body (Hebrews 2:14-15; Philippians 2:5-11) David was enthusiastic about telling others what the Lord had done for him, and he is a good example for us to follow (22:25; 26:12; 35:18; 111:1; 149:1). Among the worshipers at the sanctuary, “the great assembly,” the king gave glory to the Lord. This also reminds us of our Lord's resurrection praises (Psalm 22:31; Heb. 2:12). Today, we should also “delight to do His will” and go to the “assembly” of believers to declare “the good news of His Righteousness, His faithfulness, His salvation, His lovingkindness and His truth”, so that others may come to know and love the LORD too! God bless!