What does Psalm 40:1 mean?

David recalls that he waited patiently for the Lord to answer his urgent prayer. The Hebrew construction here uses the same root word twice, with different tenses. This most literally means something like "waited, waited," or "I waited to wait." This technique indicates David's perseverance in prayer for the Lord to answer.

The second phrase in this verse also includes a turn of phrase. The Hebrew root word natah implies something turning or bending. In a poetic image, God is "leaning forward" to hear David, the way a person might do for a child who speaks quietly. The Lord heard David's urgent prayer.

Believers are admonished in the New Testament to keep praying without giving up. Jesus told His disciples a parable showing they should always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). The parable involved a widow who kept coming to a judge to ask for justice against her adversary (Luke 18:2–3). The judge was neither godly or caring, but he grew tired of the widow's persistent asking for justice, so he granted her request (Luke 18:4–5). Jesus asked in verse 7, "And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?" Certainly, God will answer the urgent prayers of His people, therefore we should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).