Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist's desperate plea to "be pleased" to deliver him isn't just asking for God's willingness, but for His active, gracious favor, suggesting a deep awareness that deliverance comes purely from God's goodwill, not based on merit. Furthermore, the repeated and urgent call for God to "make haste" highlights a profound sense of immediacy and overwhelming need, painting a vivid picture of someone on the brink, totally reliant on God's swift intervention.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist finds himself overwhelmed by troubles and the weight of his own iniquities, feeling utterly unable to cope. This intense distress leads him to a desperate plea for God's immediate intervention, contrasting his dire situation with the urgency of his need for deliverance.
The psalmist confesses 'innumerable evils' and 'iniquities' that have 'taken hold' of him. What does this deep sense of personal failing mean for his plea to God?
Acknowledging Our Need
The psalmist, David, isn't just facing external enemies; he's overwhelmed by his own failings. He speaks of 'innumerable evils' that 'compassed me about' and 'iniquities' that have 'taken hold' of him, so much so that he 'cannot look up.' This isn't a casual admission; it's a profound recognition of how sin and its consequences weigh him down, separating him from the Lord.
This confession is crucial. It shows that David understands his desperate situation isn't just a matter of bad luck or external persecution. It's deeply connected to his own actions and their spiritual gravity. This humility is the ground for his plea: he knows he can't save himself.
Why the repeated and urgent plea for God to 'make haste'? What does this reveal about the psalmist's trust and the nature of his distress?
Desperate Faith in Action
The cry, 'O LORD, make haste to help me!' isn't a sign of doubt, but of intense faith under pressure. The psalmist knows God is his only hope, and he implores Him to act quickly. This isn't about God being slow, but about the psalmist's extreme need and his absolute reliance on God's immediate intervention.
This urgency highlights:
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This passage is a direct parallel, with the psalmist pleading for God's help and presence in a moment of deep distress, echoing the sentiment of urgency in Psalm 40:13.
Psalms 70:1-3This entire short psalm is a near-verbatim repetition of Psalm 40:13-15, highlighting the psalmist's desperate need and fervent plea for God's immediate intervention.
Matthew 26:39In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus echoes the sentiment of submission to God's will, even in distress, similar to how the psalmist pleads for deliverance while acknowledging his difficult circumstances.
Hebrews 10:5-7This New Testament passage quotes and interprets parts of Psalm 40, showing how the desire for willing obedience and God's pleasure, expressed in the preceding verses, underlies the plea for deliverance.
Jeremiah 20:7-13The prophet Jeremiah also expresses a cry to God for help in the face of persecution, revealing a consistent theme throughout Scripture of God's people calling out to Him in desperate situations.
jfbPsalms 40:13: "Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me."
- (Compare Ps 22:19).
calvinPsalms 40:12-15: "For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me."
- For innumerable evils have compassed me on all sides; my iniquities have laid hold upon me, so that I cannot look up: [93] they are more in number than the hairs of my head; and my heart has failed me. 13. Be thou pleased, O Jehovah! to deliver me: O Jehovah! make haste to help m…
The psalmist's desperate plea to "be pleased" to deliver him isn't just asking for God's willingness, but for His active, gracious favor, suggesting a deep awareness that deliverance comes purely from God's goodwill, not based on merit. Furthermore, the repeated and urgent call for God to "make haste" highlights a profound sense of immediacy and overwhelming need, painting a vivid picture of someone on the brink, totally reliant on God's swift intervention.
The psalmist finds himself overwhelmed by troubles and the weight of his own iniquities, feeling utterly unable to cope. This intense distress leads him to a desperate plea for God's immediate intervention, contrasting his dire situation with the urgency of his need for deliverance.
The psalmist finds himself overwhelmed by troubles and the weight of his own iniquities, feeling utterly unable to cope. This intense distress leads him to a desperate plea for God's immediate intervention, contrasting his dire situation with the urgency of his need for deliverance.
"Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!" — The psalmist's desperate plea to "be pleased" to deliver him isn't just asking for God's willingness, but for His active, gracious favor, suggesting a deep awareness that deliverance comes purely fro…
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Last reviewed October 2026