Psalms 41

¹To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

²The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

³The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Psa 41:1-13. The Psalmist celebrates the blessedness of those who compassionate the poor, conduct strongly contrasted with the spite of his enemies and neglect of his friends in his calamity. He prays for God’s mercy in view of his ill desert, and, in confidence of relief, and that God will vindicate his cause, he closes with a doxology. 1-3. God rewards kindness to the poor (Pr 19:17). From Psa 41:2, 11 it may be inferred that the Psalmist describes his own conduct. poor--in person, position, and possessions.

⁴I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

4. I said--I asked the mercy I show. heal my soul--(Compare Psa 30:2). “Sin and suffering are united,” is one of the great teachings of the Psalms.

⁵Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

⁶And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

5-6. A graphic picture of the conduct of a malignant enemy.

⁷All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

⁸An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

7-8. So of others, all act alike.

⁹Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

9. mine ... friend--literally, “the man of my peace.” eat ... bread--who depended on me or was well treated by me. hath lifted up heel--in scornful violence. As David and his fortunes typified Christ and His (compare Introduction), so these words expressed the treatment he received, and also that of his Son and Lord; hence, though not distinctly prophetical, our Saviour (Joh 13:18) applies them to Judas, “that the Scripture may be fulfilled.” This last phrase has a wide use in the New Testament, and is not restricted to denote special prophecies.

¹⁰But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

10. A lawful punishment of criminals is not revenge, nor inconsistent with their final good (compare Psa 40:14, 15).

¹¹By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

¹²And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

¹³Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

11-13. favourest--or tenderly lovest me (Ge 34:19), evinced by relief from his enemies, and, farther, God recognizes his innocence by upholding him.