Psalms 40:7-8
Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the Messiah's coming wasn't a sudden event, but something foretold and inscribed within the very fabric of God's revealed Word, pointing to a divine plan unfolding from the earliest scriptures. It emphasizes the Son's willing submission to fulfill God's will, not out of obligation, but from a deep, internal delight and dedication written on his heart.
The psalmist is expressing a profound desire to fulfill God's will, recognizing that animal sacrifices alone are insufficient. He declares his readiness to obey God's commands, understanding that his obedience is "written of me" in sacred scripture, pointing to a deeper purpose beyond mere ritual. This declaration anticipates the Messiah's coming, who would offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice to accomplish God's plan.
Ever wonder if your life's purpose is written down somewhere? This verse points to a divine plan revealed in Scripture, not as a rigid fate, but as a clear calling.
More Than Just Rules
When the psalmist says, "in the volume of the book it is written of me," he's not just referring to a general sense of duty. The ancient world understood books as scrolls, meticulously written and often sacred. This phrase points to the sacred texts, particularly the Law of Moses (the Pentateuch).
What's the difference between doing what you're told and wanting to do it? This verse reveals a profound shift from external duty to internal delight.
Beyond Ritual: A Transformed Heart
The verse contrasts God's desire not for mere sacrifices but for obedience flowing from a willing heart. This isn't about begrudgingly following rules; it's about a deep-seated desire to please God.
Understand the original words
torah · Hebrew Noun
The divine requirement or mandate; it signifies God's sovereign standard for holiness, justice, and life, which guides the believer.
me'ah · Hebrew Noun
The central inner self or seat of human consciousness, will, and emotion; where the law is kept when it is truly internalized.
This verse points to the Old Testament scrolls, likely the Pentateuch, as containing prophecies and foreshadowings of the Messiah's coming and purpose. The Jewish people would have understood 'the book' as the Law given by Moses, but for believers, it points to the greater fulfillment found in Jesus Christ.
c. 1440-1400 BC
The Law is Written
The first five books of the Torah (the Pentateuch) are written down, containing God's commands, prophecies, and the framework for Israelite worship.
c. 1040-1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Flourishes
David reigns as king, establishing Jerusalem and consolidating the nation of Israel. He is traditionally credited with writing many of the Psalms.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and marking a period of divine judgment and prophetic warning.
c. 622 BC
Josiah's Reform and Discovery of Deuteronomy
During renovations in the Temple, the Book of Deuteronomy (a scroll of the Law) is found, leading King Josiah to enact sweeping religious reforms.
This passage directly quotes Psalm 40:7 and explicitly applies it to Jesus Christ, highlighting His perfect obedience and sacrifice as fulfilling what the Old Testament law and sacrifices could not.
Luke 24:44Jesus Himself points to the Old Testament Scriptures, including the Psalms, as testifying about Him, which aligns with the idea in Psalm 40:7 that His coming and purpose were foretold in the written Word.
John 5:46Jesus tells the Pharisees that if they believed Moses, they would believe Him, because Moses wrote about Him. This reinforces the concept that the 'scroll of the book' mentioned in Psalm 40:7 contained prophecies and testimonies pointing to the Messiah.
Genesis 3:15This foundational promise of a 'seed' that would crush the serpent's head is seen by many as the earliest prophecy concerning Christ, fitting the idea that 'in the volume of the book it is written of me' from the very beginning.
Galatians 4:4This verse describes the perfect timing of Jesus' birth, stating that 'when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son.' This echoes the sense of divine appointment and fulfillment implied in Psalm 40:7, where Christ willingly comes as written.
clarkePsalms 40:7: "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,"
In the volume of the book - במגלת ספר bimegillath sepher, "in the roll of the book." Anciently, books were written on skins, and rolled up. Among the Romans, these were called volumina, from volvo, I roll; and the Pentateuch in the Jewish synagogues is still written in this way. There are two wooden rollers; on one they roll on, on the other they roll off, as they proceed in reading. One now lying before me,…
barnesPsalms 40:7: "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,"
Then said I-- In Hebrews 10:7 , the apostle applies this to the Messiah. See the notes at that verse. This is the most simple and satisfactory interpretation of the passage. The word "then" in this verse means, "since this is the case;" or, "things being thus." It does not refer to time, but to the condition of things. "Since it was certain that the work needful to be done could not be accomplished by bloody…
This verse highlights that the Messiah's coming wasn't a sudden event, but something foretold and inscribed within the very fabric of God's revealed Word, pointing to a divine plan unfolding from the earliest scriptures. It emphasizes the Son's willing submission to fulfill God's will, not out of obligation, but from a deep, internal delight and dedication written on his heart.
The psalmist is expressing a profound desire to fulfill God's will, recognizing that animal sacrifices alone are insufficient. He declares his readiness to obey God's commands, understanding that his obedience is "written of me" in sacred scripture, pointing to a deeper purpose beyond mere ritual. This declaration anticipates the Messiah's coming, who would offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice to accomplish God's plan.
The psalmist is expressing a profound desire to fulfill God's will, recognizing that animal sacrifices alone are insufficient. He declares his readiness to obey God's commands, understanding that his obedience is "written of me" in sacred scripture, pointing to a deeper purpose beyond mere ritual. This declaration anticipates the Messiah's coming, who would offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice to accomplish God's plan.
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c. 605-586 BC
Babylonian Exile of Southern Kingdom
The Babylonian Empire deports the people of Judah and destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to a crisis of faith and a re-evaluation of God's Law.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Life and Ministry of Jesus
Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, lives, teaches, and performs miracles, fulfilling prophecies and inaugurating a new covenant.
c. AD 60-62
Paul Writes to the Hebrews
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Hebrews, quotes Psalm 40:6-8 to explain the superiority of Christ's sacrifice and ministry over the Old Testament sacrificial system.
"Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”" — This verse highlights that the Messiah's coming wasn't a sudden event, but something foretold and inscribed within the very fabric of God's revealed Word, pointing to a divine plan unfolding from the…
