Because He has turned his ear to me

I don’t think I’ve ever seen the connection between Psalm 39 and 40 as clearly as I did today.

In Psalm 39, David pleaded,

Hear my prayer, Lord,
and listen to my cry for help;
do not be silent at my tears. (Psalm 39:12)

Now in Psalm 40, David sings,

I waited patiently for the Lord,
and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.

He brought me up from a desolate pit,
out of the muddy clay,
and set my feet on a rock,
making my steps secure.

He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God. (Psalm 40:1-3)

But the other thing that struck me was David’s response.

You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;
you open my ears to listen.
You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.

Then I said, “See, I have come;
in the scroll it is written about me.

I delight to do your will, my God,
and your instruction is deep within me.” (Psalm 40:6-8)

Because the Lord had graciously turned his ear to David, David turned his ear to the Lord.

Because of all the Lord had done for him (Psalm 40:1-5), he delighted to follow God and do his will. God’s words were his joy.

That was David’s heart.

That was Jesus’ heart. (Hebrews 10:5-7)

And that’s the kind of heart I want to have.