Psalm 40: 2, 3, 4, 18

Today’s responsorial, taken from Psalm 40, powerfully echoes the experience of the prophet Jeremiah in our first reading.

Just as Jeremiah was trapped in a cistern, abandoned and endangered because of his faithfulness to God’s word, the psalmist cried out from a place of distress and was lifted up by God’s saving hand.

I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me. The LORD heard my cry.

The psalmist begins by recalling his posture of patient hope. He did not act in desperation but waited on the Lord, who bent down to listen and respond.

He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; 

The “pit” and “mud” symbolize both physical danger and spiritual despair.

he set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps.

Having been drawn up out of danger, the psalmist is placed on a secure rock, a place of sound footing.

In other words, God didn’t just rescue him — he restored him.

And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.

Having been rescued, the psalmist’s cry for help was replaced by a grateful song of praise (Psalm 33:3, 96:1, 144:9, 149:1).

Giving thanks is not purely a human response but is itself a divine gift.

Many shall look on in awe and trust in the LORD.

The psalmist’s personal story becomes a communal witness. His testimony inspires reverence and renewed faith in others who see what God has done.

Though I am afflicted and poor, yet the LORD thinks of me. 

Two stereotypical words are used to describe the psalmist: “afflicted” (’ānî) and “poor” (’ebyôn). 

These words eventually became synonymous with the righteous ones who, though deprived of protection by the power structures of the world, were favored by God and supported precisely because of their vulnerability.

You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, hold not back!

God is referred to as help (’ēzer) and deliverer (pelêt).

Past deliverance fuels present prayer. Because God has acted before, the psalmist calls on him again — confident that the Lord who saves does not abandon his own.