Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5 KJV

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. Psalms 40:5 NASB

Innumerable … Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me … they are more than the hairs of mine head. Psalm 40:12 KJV

My iniquities have overtaken me… They are more numerous than the hairs of my head… Psalm 40:12 NASB

In Psalm 40, the writer bemoans the evil he finds within his own heart. He characterizes his iniquities as too numerous to count; more than the hairs of his head. Each believer has known something of this at conversion, but more so as a result of the indwelling Spirit of God Who continues to show us the incurability of our flesh. If left to ourselves and our own devices, we would be eternally and helplessly lost. All the sacrifices, the “sacrifice and offerings,” brought God no pleasure or satisfaction.

In contrast, at the beginning of the Psalm, the same writer is seen worshiping God for His many wonderful works and His disposition toward him. In fact, as he tries to tally the many works and thoughts of God, he realizes they cannot be numbered or even set in order. To be able to arrange a list, you need to know where it begins and with what it ends. Here, however, he recognizes that he cannot place a starting point on God’s thoughts toward him; likewise, he owns that there will never be a stopping point.

From before the world began onward into eternity, God’s thoughts have encompassed you and me, His mercy has encircled our every footstep.

In between the innumerable thoughts of God for us, and the innumerable iniquities which mark us is the poem of praise marking the departure from heaven of God’s Servant-Son. Here is the bridge which enables God to think His thoughts and to enact His “wonderful ways” to humanity with its innumerable sins.

As the Lord Jesus stepped from heaven into the womb of the virgin, His parting words are recorded for us by the Spirit of God: “Lo, I come to do Thy will … I delight to do Thy will, O My God” (vv 7, 8). He came into a world that rejected the will of God, living in armed resistance to the God of heaven, in open hostility. Yet He came to accomplish that will, to do the most wonderful of all God’s “wonderful works.” His obedience unto death has become the “bridge” enabling a holy God to think His thoughts and plan His works for each of us.

“In the volume (roll) of the book” it was written concerning Him that He delighted to do His Father’s will. Just as there never was a beginning to God’s thoughts about us, so there was never a beginning to His intention in coming for us. It was written in the “volume” of the book. All of God’s purposes, plans, and love for each of us are stamped with an eternal purpose.

So, as your feet have been placed upon a rock, and your ways have been established (v 2), open your voice each morning this week and “sing” to Him your thanksgiving, “even praise unto our God” (v 3).

Consider:

Look at the beginning of Psalm 40 and contrast it with Psalm 69. In the former, we have our security and salvation while in the latter we have the Savior’s suffering.