Francesca LaRosa - Psalm 40: Here Am I, Lord I Come To Do Your Will (Chanted Verses) Lyrics
Lyrics
(Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10)
R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, ""Behold I come.""
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
""In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!""
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Official LIVE video of Psalm 40 - 'Here Am I, Lord; I Come To Do Your Will' - with chanted verses for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sun. January 15). SHEET MUSIC is available NOW on my website (piano, vocal, choral, and guitar) at https://francescalarosa.com/collections/psalm-40-here-am-i-lord-i-come-to-do-your-will . This Psalm video includes the vocal line to help you sing along! Prayers for you and your families, and may you always grow in holiness!
Video
Psalm 40 - Here Am I, Lord; I Come To Do Your Will - Francesca LaRosa (LIVE with chanted verses)
Meaning & Inspiration
Francesca LaRosa's "Psalm 40: Here Am I, Lord I Come To Do Your Will (Chanted Verses)," released on December 2, 2022, serves as a profoundly moving and spiritually resonant interpretation of a foundational biblical text. This chanted rendition, presented with a clarity designed to facilitate communal worship, offers a direct and accessible gateway into the heart of Psalm 40, emphasizing a spirit of total availability and obedience to the Divine. The very essence of the piece lies in its call to personal surrender, capturing the ancient prayer of a soul wholly committed to God's purpose, making it particularly fitting for liturgical settings and individual reflection on one's spiritual path.
The central narrative of Psalm 40, powerfully conveyed in LaRosa's performance, revolves around a testament of faith, deliverance, and ultimate devotion. The psalm begins with an account of patient endurance: "I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry." This opening verse speaks volumes about the steadfastness required in faith, mirroring the promise found in Lamentations 3:25 that the Lord is good to those who wait for Him. God's act of "stooping" signifies His tender, personal attention to human suffering and prayer, drawing a picture of divine compassion. Following this deliverance, the psalmist declares, "And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God," a profound declaration of transformation and gratitude, indicative of the joy that arises from experiencing God's saving power, much like the new song mentioned in Revelation 5:9, sung by those redeemed.
The core message of the psalm, reiterated in the powerful refrain, "Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will," shifts from gratitude for deliverance to a proactive commitment to obedience. This declaration, reminiscent of Samuel’s response to God’s call in 1 Samuel 3:10 and Isaiah’s immediate availability in Isaiah 6:8, embodies a willingness to serve without reservation. The psalmist then articulates a revolutionary understanding of worship, stating, "Sacrifice or offering you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, 'Behold I come.'" This critical insight moves beyond external religious rituals to emphasize the internal disposition of the heart. It echoes the prophetic words of 1 Samuel 15:22, where Samuel proclaims, "To obey is better than sacrifice," and Hosea 6:6, "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." This profound shift underscores that God values a surrendered will and an attentive spirit over mere ceremonial acts, foreshadowing the fulfillment of this principle through Christ's perfect obedience, as elaborated in Hebrews 10:5-7.
Further deepening this commitment, the psalmist declares, "In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!" This powerful statement reveals that obedience is not a burden but a source of profound joy and an internalized truth. It speaks to a covenant relationship where God's commands are not just external rules but etched onto the very fabric of one's being, a promise articulated in Jeremiah 31:33: "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts." This internal alignment transforms duty into delight, demonstrating a complete integration of divine will into one's life. Finally, the psalm moves outward, proclaiming, "I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know." This signifies the natural outflow of a heart transformed by God's will: a compelled urge to bear witness and share God's truth and righteousness openly. It is a call to proclamation, reflecting the Great Commission to share the Good News, as given in Matthew 28:19-20, embodying a fearless dedication to speaking God's truth to all who will hear. Francesca LaRosa's chanted rendition beautifully encapsulates this entire journey of faith, making the ancient words resonate with a fresh, inspiring clarity for anyone seeking to live a life of dedicated purpose in God's service.