Psalm 41

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PSALM 41
King David’s poetic song for the Pure and Shining One

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God always blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless.

They’re the first ones God helps
when they find themselves in any trouble.

The Lord will preserve and protect them.
They’ll be honored and esteemed while their enemies are defeated.
When they are sick, lying upon their bed of suffering, God will restore them.

He will raise them up again and restore them back to health.
So in my sickness I say to you,
“Lord, be my kind healer.
Heal my body and soul; heal me, God!
For I have confessed my sins to you.”
Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place
and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path.

A new song for a new day rises up in me
every time I think about how he breaks through for me!
Lord, our God,
no one can compare with you.
Such wonderful works and miracles
are all found with you!
And you think of us all the time
with your countless expressions of love—
far exceeding our expectations!
It’s not sacrifices

that really move your heart.
Burnt offerings, sin offerings—
those aren’t what bring you joy.
But when you open my ears
and speak to me,
I become your willing servant,
your prisoner of love for life.
O Lord, our God,
no one can compare with you.
Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with you!

And you think of us all the time
with your countless expressions of love—
far exceeding our expectations!
So I said, “Here I am! I’m coming to you as a sacrifice,
for in the prophetic scrolls of your book
you have written about me.

I delight to fulfill your will, my God,
for your living words are written upon the pages of my heart.”
I tell everyone everywhere the truth of your righteousness.

And you know I haven’t held back in telling the message to all.

I don’t keep it a secret or hide the truth.

I preach of your faithfulness and kindness,
proclaiming your extravagant love to the largest crowd I can find!
Keep me in your truth and let your compassion overflow to me
no matter what I face.

Evil surrounds me; problems greater than I can solve
come one after another.
Without you, I know I can’t make it.

My sins are so many!
I’m so ashamed to lift my face to you.
For my guilt grabs me and stings my soul
until I am weakened and spent.

Please, Lord! Come quickly and rescue me!

Take pleasure in showing me your favor and restore me.
Let all who seek my life be humiliated!
Let them be confused and ashamed, God.
Scatter those who wish me evil;
they just want me dead.
Scoff at every scoffer
and cause them all to be utter failures.
Let them be ashamed and horrified
by their complete defeat.

But let all who passionately seek you
erupt with excitement and joy
over what you’ve done!
Let all your devoted lovers rejoice continually in the Savior, saying,
“How great and glorious is our God!”
Lord, in my place of weakness and need, I ask again:

Will you come and help me?
I know I’m always in your thoughts.
You are my true Savior and hero,
so don’t delay to deliver me now,
for you are my God.
U2 - 40
This was the last song written for the album "War". They had already used an extra week of studio time and needed one more song in a hurry, so Bono opened a bible, read from Psalm 40 of Psalms of David, and they put it to music.
The last song on War, it invokes the first track, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" with the refrain "How long must we sing this song."
At a concert in Chicago on April 29, 1987, Bono said: "This is a song that when we were being thrown out of the studio... we spent ten minutes writing this next song, ten minutes recording it, ten minutes mixing it, ten minutes playing it back, and that's nothing to do with why it's called '40.'"
U2 closed most of their concerts in the '80s with this. They did so on many of their 2005 shows as well. Source: https://www.songfacts.com/facts/u2/40
"He has raised me
from the pit
and set me on high." Psalm 40:2
Psalm 40:2 by John Darnielle is an intense reflection on sin and degradation. The chorus keeps returning to Psalm 40:2
The song uses the form of a Psalm in its intensity and posture towards God "Lord, send me a mechanic if I'm not beyond repair."
On The Mountain Goats 2009 Album “Life of the World to Come.” each track referred directly to biblical verses.
Psalm 40

1
Summary
Psalm 40 expresses a deep feeling of sadness and despair, longing for solace and comfort from God.
-
Trust in the Lord
Joyous hope, secure in faith
Peaceful, contented heart
-
General Emotions in Psalm 40
Joy Gratitude Hope Relief Devotion Humility Praise Adoration Trust Contentment
-
Specific
Verse 1: Joy, Trust
Verse 2: Gratitude, Hope Verse 3: Appreciation, Peace Verse 4: Humility, Contentment
Verse 5: Awe, Wonder
Verse 6: Longing, Yearning
Verse 7: Desperation, Fear
2
The Most Listened to Songs inspired by Psalm 41 on Spotify
Psalm 41
Poor Bishop Hooper Spotify 79,000

Psalm 41
Ian White
Spotify 11,000

Psalm 41 (In Your Presence Forever)
The Psalms Project Jon Degroot Spotify 5500
3
Questions
Understanding: 1. What is the main theme of Psalm 41?
2. What does the psalmist ask for in verse 2?
Applying: 1. How can we apply Psalm 41 to our own lives?
2. What are some ways we can show God the same kind of trust as expressed in Psalm 41?
Analyzing: 1. How does the tone of the psalm change from the beginning to the end?
2. What elements in the psalm suggest the psalmist's trust in God?
Evaluating: 1. How does Psalm 41 demonstrate the importance of faith?
2. How does the structure of Psalm 41 emphasise the psalmist's commitment to God?
Creating: 1. How can we use Psalm 41 to create a modern-day poem that expresses similar themes of trust and faith?
2. How could we use Psalm 41 to create a song that reflects the same themes?

King David’s poetic song for the Pure and Shining One PrayScroll You may like to Press Play to hear these songs inspired by Psalm 40

God always blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless.

They’re the first ones God helps

when they find themselves in any trouble.

The Lord will preserve and protect them.

They’ll be honored and esteemed while their enemies are defeated.

When they are sick, lying upon their bed of suffering, God will restore them.

He will raise them up again and restore them back to health.

So in my sickness I say to you,

“Lord, be my kind healer.

Heal my body and soul; heal me, God!

For I have confessed my sins to you.”

Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place

and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path.

A new song for a new day rises up in me

every time I think about how he breaks through for me!

Lord, our God,

no one can compare with you.

Such wonderful works and miracles

are all found with you!

And you think of us all the time

with your countless expressions of love—

far exceeding our expectations!

It’s not sacrifices

that really move your heart.

Burnt offerings, sin offerings—

those aren’t what bring you joy.

But when you open my ears

and speak to me,

I become your willing servant,

your prisoner of love for life.

O Lord, our God,

no one can compare with you.

Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with you!

And you think of us all the time

with your countless expressions of love—

far exceeding our expectations!

So I said, “Here I am! I’m coming to you as a sacrifice,

for in the prophetic scrolls of your book

you have written about me.

I delight to fulfill your will, my God,

for your living words are written upon the pages of my heart.”

I tell everyone everywhere the truth of your righteousness.

And you know I haven’t held back in telling the message to all.

I don’t keep it a secret or hide the truth.

I preach of your faithfulness and kindness,

proclaiming your extravagant love to the largest crowd I can find!

Keep me in your truth and let your compassion overflow to me

no matter what I face.

Evil surrounds me; problems greater than I can solve

come one after another.

Without you, I know I can’t make it.

My sins are so many!

I’m so ashamed to lift my face to you.

For my guilt grabs me and stings my soul

until I am weakened and spent.

Please, Lord! Come quickly and rescue me!

Take pleasure in showing me your favor and restore me.

Let all who seek my life be humiliated!

Let them be confused and ashamed, God.

Scatter those who wish me evil;

they just want me dead.

Scoff at every scoffer

and cause them all to be utter failures.

Let them be ashamed and horrified

by their complete defeat.

But let all who passionately seek you

erupt with excitement and joy

over what you’ve done!

Let all your devoted lovers rejoice continually in the Savior, saying,

“How great and glorious is our God!”

Lord, in my place of weakness and need, I ask again:

Will you come and help me?

I know I’m always in your thoughts.

You are my true Savior and hero,

so don’t delay to deliver me now,

for you are my God.

U2 - 40

"He has raised me

King David’s poetic song for the Pure and Shining One

Pray
Scroll

You may like to Press Play to hear these songs inspired by Psalm 40

Poor Bishop Hooper Spotify 79,000

Psalm 41
Ian White