Psalms 40:7

My Notes

What Does Psalms 40:7 Mean?

"Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me." David's declaration of WILLING OBEDIENCE — 'Lo, I COME.' The response isn't reluctant compliance but EAGER arrival: 'Here I am — I COME.' The willingness is total. The coming is announced. The obedience is presented as ARRIVAL — the person moves toward the purpose that's been written about them.

The phrase "in the volume of the book it is written of me" (bimegillat sepher katuv alai — in the scroll of the book it is written about/concerning me) claims that David's PURPOSE is PREWRITTEN: before he came, the book was written. Before his arrival, the volume contained his story. The destiny preceded the person. The writing came before the living. David's life has been SCRIPTED — not in the mechanical sense but in the purposive sense: God has WRITTEN about David. The life fulfills what the book describes.

The MESSIANIC reading (Hebrews 10:5-7 applies this to Christ) expands the verse beyond David: the 'Lo, I come' becomes the Incarnation — the Son saying to the Father 'I come to do your will.' The 'volume of the book' becomes the entire Old Testament written about the Messiah. The 'written of me' becomes every prophecy, every type, every foreshadowing that points to Christ. The verse works at BOTH levels — David's obedience and Christ's advent.

The 'THEN said I' marks a DECISION POINT: something happened before this moment (verses 6-7 — sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; burnt offering and sin offering thou hast not required). The inadequacy of ritual sacrifice PRODUCED the personal offering: 'since those don't satisfy, then I come MYSELF.' The offering shifts from ANIMAL to PERSON.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What 'Lo, I come' is God's written purpose asking of you?
• 2.What does 'in the volume of the book it is written of me' teach about your life fulfilling a prewritten purpose?
• 3.How does the shift from ritual sacrifice to personal arrival describe what God actually wants?
• 4.What does the Messianic reading (Christ saying 'I come') add to your understanding of willing obedience?

Devotional

'Lo, I COME.' The shortest, most consequential declaration of obedience in Scripture. Not 'I'll consider it.' Not 'I'll come when ready.' I COME. The willingness is complete. The arrival is announced. The obedience is expressed as PRESENCE — showing up, coming forward, presenting yourself.

The 'VOLUME OF THE BOOK' is the pre-written purpose: before David came, the book was written. Before the obedient person arrived, the purpose existed in writing. The life is a FULFILLMENT of something already scripted. The destiny preceded the decision. The writing came before the living. Your 'Lo, I come' is the response to a story already being told about you.

The MESSIANIC layer (Hebrews 10:5-7) transforms this verse: the 'Lo, I come' becomes the Son of God entering the world — the Incarnation as an act of WILLING obedience. The 'volume of the book' becomes the entire Old Testament pointing to Christ. The 'written of me' becomes every prophecy about the Messiah. David's personal obedience foreshadows the ultimate obedience.

The SHIFT from ritual to personal is the theological revolution: verses 6-7 say sacrifice and offering 'thou didst not desire.' The animal offerings aren't enough. THEN — 'Lo, I come.' The person replaces the ritual. The body replaces the animal. The willing self replaces the unwilling sacrifice. The obedience God wants isn't the death of an animal. It's the arrival of a person who says 'I come.'

What 'Lo, I come' — what willing, personal, body-and-soul obedience — is God's written purpose asking of you?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture