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Lenten Season · Annunciation of the Lord · Year A

Psalm 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 (8a, 9a)

He Drew Me Up from the Pit

March 25, 2026

Saint John the Baptist Preaching in the Desert, Jean Baptiste Henri Deshays
Saint John the Baptist Preaching in the Desert, Jean Baptiste Henri Deshays, c. 1758–64The Art Institute of Chicago
A French Rococo painting of the preaching, the Baptist raised on a rock with the crowd flowing round the base of it.I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. The reading is the psalm the Baptist's whole life is an example of.Jean Baptiste Henri DeshaysA French painter, Boucher's son-in-law, who died at thirty-six just as he was being recognised as the coming history painter.The Art Institute of ChicagoFounded in 1879 as both a museum and a school, and the home of American Gothic and of a famous Impressionist collection.The Art Institute of Chicago
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 1:26-38Lk 1:26-38
Second ReadingHeb. 10:4-10Heb 10:4-10
First ReadingIsa. 7:10-14; 8:10Is 7:10-14; 8:10
Responsorial PsalmPs. 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 (8a, 9a)Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 (8a, 9a)

Overview & Insights

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1)

Psalm 40 is an individual psalm of thanksgiving, which is typically composed of the report of a crisis (40:12) and the celebration of deliverance (40:1–3), and these elements do not necessarily occur in that order.1Some commentators insist that this psalm is a combination of two independent psalms, an individual psalm of thanksgiving (40:1–10) and an individual lament (40:11–17). In reality, however, thanksgiving and lament naturally belong to the individual psalm of thanksgiving, since the suppliant as a matter of course rehearses the crisis (lament) from which he has been delivered.2 As for the usual order of lament followed by thanksgiving, Psalms 9–10 pose a similar challenge to this order and show that the order is not sacrosanct.3 A thematic editorial principle definitely plays a role in the order of the Psalms.

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Take it further: Psalm 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 (8a, 9a)

Commentary

Psalm 40:1-11 CommentaryPs 40:1-11 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reads the psalm's here I am through Christ and its echo in Hebrews 10.

Psalm 40 Commentary: The Servant Comes to Do God's WillPs 40 Commentary: The Servant Comes to Do God's Will Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse on the servant who delights to do God's will.

Psalm 40:7 CommentariesPs 40:7 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries on I delight to do your will, O my God.

Background & Word Study

Psalms 40 (Hebrew and English)Ps 40 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria

The Hebrew text of the psalm with classic Jewish commentary.

The Church Fathers

Psalms 40 - Catena Bible & CommentariesPs 40 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment on the psalm of obedient sacrifice from the Church Fathers.

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