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The first part (vers. 1-10) is a thanksgiving, the second part a prayer. The situation is that of one who, on one side, set free from a heavy affliction, is still oppressed on the other. We have all ground for thanksgiving for the past, and for prayer for the present and future. This section may be divided thus: what God had done fur the psalmist and for his country; and what the psalmist had done for God.

I. WHAT GOD HAD DONE.

1. For the psalmist.

(1) Delivered him from threatened destruction into great safety. The specific nature of the salvation is not mentioned, But it suggests and describes what Christ dyes in the deliverance of the man who trusts in him, the greatness of the salvation.

(2) The deliverance had filled him with grateful joy. "Put a new song into his mouth." Every new experience of the Divine love should rouse anew the spirit of thanksgiving; it is a new revelation of God's mercy. His experience is, "Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust."

2. For the Hebrew people as a nation. (Ver. 5.) Turns from the goodness of God towards himself to his larger manifestations of himself in the national history. His wonderful thoughts or purposes, and his wonderful deeds on behalf of Israel, are too great and too manifold to be enumerated. But we turn to what God is doing for the world, and say, "God so loved the world," etc.; not only our country, but the whole world. How great a Worker and Thinker God is for the whole universe!

II. WHAT THE PSALMIST HAD DONE FOR GOD. (Vers. 6-10.) To manifest his gratitude.

1. By his deeds. (Vers. 6-8.)

(1) He gives obedience to his Law, instead of seeking to please him by sacrifice. God had opened his ears to hear and his eyes to read his will as prescribed to him in the roll of his book. Obedience better than any ceremonial observance.

(2) His obedience was thus not only intelligent, but came from the heart. The Law was in his heart; he loved obedience.

2. By his words. (Vers. 9, 10.) Unwearied in proclaiming to others what Jehovah had done for him.

(1) What he preached. The righteousness, faithfulness, and loving-kindness of God. He preached what he saw in his own history and the history of the nation.

(2) Gratitude gave him courage openly to declare God's goodness. If he had been ungrateful, or had wanted courage, he might have been tempted to hide God's dealings among the secrets of his private experience. Every man's duty to profess his convictions; and to declare that he is on the side of Christ and the Church. - S.

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KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

WEB: I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.