The Bible: Psalms Chapter 41: with Audio and Commentary.

Version: World English Bible.

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Psalms Chapter 41 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

1 Blessed is he who considers the poor. The LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.

2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive. He shall be blessed on the earth, and he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies.

3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore him from his bed of illness.

4 I said, "LORD, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you."

5 My enemies speak evil against me: "When will he die, and his name perish?"

6 If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it.

7 All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me.

8 "An evil disease", they say, "has afflicted him. Now that he lies he shall rise up no more."

9 Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.

10 But you, LORD, have mercy on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.

11 By this I know that you delight in me, because my enemy doesn't triumph over me.

12 As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.

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

Footnotes

Version: World English Bible

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Psalms Chapter 41 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Guide

This whole song depends for interpretation on its opening beatitude. The man who is considerate toward the weak, who is compassionate, is blessed. His blessings are then described. Emphasize "him" and "he" and "his" in verses Psalms 41:1-3. It will then be seen that all these things come to the man at first described, namely the compassionate man. Then the psalmist confesses his sin. In the light of the beatitude the sin is seen to have been lack of compassion, and this is the secret of the bitter hatred of his enemies, which he proceeds to describe.

Returning to his cry for mercy, his words should be carefully noted (verse Psalms 41:10). What is the meaning of "requite"? Almost all expositors agree it indicates revenge, and then attempt to explain it away. The word may certainly be translated recompense and is far oftener used to indicate a kind action than a vindictive one. If that be so here, the consistency of the argument is apparent. The psalmist has failed in compassion, therefore his enemies and even his friends are against him. He asks for Jehovah's mercy, that being raised up he may treat his enemies differently. The Messianic reference is not destroyed. The wrong of those who harmed the Christ is greater because they acted without cause. Even then His prayer, "Father, forgive," harmonizes with this interpretation. His raising up by God was for blessing on men.

From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.

Psalms Chapter 41 Commentary

Chapter Outline

  1. God's care for his people. -- (1-4)
  2. The treachery of David's enemies. -- (5-13)

Verses 1-4

The people of God are not free from poverty, sickness, or outward affliction, but the Lord will consider their case, and send due supplies. From his Lord's example the believer learns to consider his poor and afflicted brethren. This branch of godliness is usually recompensed with temporal blessings. But nothing is so distressing to the contrite believer, as a fear or sense of the Divine displeasure, or of sin in his heart. Sin is the sickness of the soul; pardoning mercy heals it, renewing grace heals it, and for this spiritual healing we should be more earnest than for bodily health.

Verses 5-13

We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and that there is scarcely any true friendship to be found among men; but the former days were no better. One particularly, in whom David had reposed great confidence, took part with his enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive evil from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus broken our words toward God? We eat of his bread daily, yet lift up the heel against him. But though we may not take pleasure in the fall of our enemies, we may take pleasure in the making vain their designs. When we can discern the Lord's favour in any mercy, personal or public, that doubles it. If the grace of God did not take constant care of us, we should not be upheld. But let us, while on earth, give heartfelt assent to those praises which the redeemed on earth and in heaven render to their God and Saviour.

From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.