I Waited Patiently for the LORD

David begins by remembering that he waited patiently for the LORD and was heard, lifted from the pit and mire, and set securely upon a rock. God gave him a new song that causes many to fear and trust, and David contrasts the blessed man who looks to the LORD with those who turn aside to pride and lies, concluding that God's wondrous works and thoughts are beyond counting.

F¹or the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ²He lifted me up from the pit of despair, ³He put a new song in my mouth, ⁴Blessed is the man ⁵Many, O LORD my God,

From praise David moves to obedience, saying that God did not chiefly desire sacrifice and offering but a willing servant who comes to do his will. Because God's law is within him, he delights to obey and has not hidden divine righteousness, faithfulness, steadfast love, and salvation, but has proclaimed them openly in the great assembly.

⁶Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, ⁷Then I said, “Here I am, I have come — ⁸I delight to do Your will, O my God; ⁹I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; ¹⁰I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart;

The psalm pivots abruptly back into need as David asks the LORD not to withhold mercy and to let steadfast love and truth continually guard him. Innumerable evils surround him, his iniquities overtake him so that he cannot see, and the burden feels greater than the hairs of his head.

¹¹O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; ¹²For evils without number surround me;

David asks the LORD to be pleased to deliver him quickly, and he prays that those who seek his ruin or mock him with triumph will be ashamed and driven back. By contrast, all who seek God should rejoice and magnify the LORD's salvation, while David himself, poor and needy, rests in the confidence that the Lord thinks upon him and will act as his help and deliverer.

¹³Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; ¹⁴May those who seek my life ¹⁵May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” ¹⁶May all who seek You ¹⁷But I am poor and needy;