Two composers used the beginning for symphonic compositions, Mendelssohn's Lobgesang and Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms.

Matthew Henry divides the psalm into three sections: Some writers see verses 6-9 as prophetic of Jesus,[6][7] or of the messiah generally.

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the eighth day of the month,[14] as well as at Matins on Good Friday.

[15] Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a paraphrase of Psalm 40 in German, "Ich harrete des Herren", SWV 137, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.

A song by The Mountain Goats titled "Psalm 40:2" appears on their 2009 album The Life of the World to Come, inspired by this verse.