Psalms41
New International Version
1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
2 The Lord protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land— he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.
4 I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?”
6 When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.
7 All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 “A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
10 But may you have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.
13 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
Study
Psalms 41Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 41. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's care for his people. (1–4). The treachery of David's enemies. (5–13).
vv1-4
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.
vv5-13
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.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
אֶשֶׁר: happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
שָׂכַל: to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent
דַּל: properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
רַע: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
מָלַט: properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit sparks
שָׁמַר: properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
Cross References
Psalms 41Explicitly quoted by Jesus as fulfilled in Judas's betrayal of Him: 'he that eateth bread with me...'
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel lament of betrayal by an intimate, equal companion and trusted familiar friend.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Historical allusion to Ahithophel, David's trusted counselor who joined Absalom's conspiracy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Direct parallel: showing mercy to the poor is a loan to the Lord, repaid with blessing.
Supported by JFB
Connects confessing sins and prayer with physical and spiritual healing.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Demonstrates the scriptural use of 'heal' to mean pardoning sin and restoring the soul.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical doxology closing Book 4 of Psalms, mirroring the conclusion of Book 1 here.
Supported by JFB
Parallel doxology closing Book 3 of the Psalms with 'Amen, and Amen.'
Supported by JFB
The physical act of dipping hand in the dish typifies the shared table in David's psalm.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Contrast of enemies shouting in triumph over David's downfall, which God prevents.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Integrity acts as a shield, ensuring God upholds and preserves the believer.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Like Job, David's physical affliction was misconstrued by others as a sign of divine rejection.
Supported by John Calvin