Psalms 41:1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. » Blessed [is] he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. _A Psalm of David_] Of the same sense with the four former psalms, saith Kimchi. Ver. 1. _Blessed is he that considereth the poor_] Heb. that wisely cons... [ Continue Reading ]
The 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. Ver. 2. _The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive_] Life in any sense is a singular mercy. "Why is a living man sorrowful?" Lamentations 3:39;... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. Ver. 3. _The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing_] Whether through sickness of body, as Isaiah 38:2, or sorrow of heart; for in such case also men cast themselves upon their beds,... [ Continue Reading ]
I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. Ver. 4. I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal] Heal me in mercy, and begin at the inside first. Heal my soul of sin, and then my body of sickness; heal me every whit. These, to the end, are the sick man's words, sait... [ Continue Reading ]
Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? Ver. 5. _Mine enemies speak evil of me_] Notwithstanding my piety and devotion; that is no target against persecution. David's integrity and the severity of his discipline displeased these yokeless Belialists; they were sick of... [ Continue Reading ]
And if he come to see [me], he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; [when] he goeth abroad, he telleth [it]. Ver. 6. _And if he come to see me_] That is, Ahithophel, or some such hollow hearted Holophanta (Plaut.). _ He speaketh vanity_] Pretending that he is very sorry to see... [ Continue Reading ]
All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. Ver. 7. _All that hate me, whisper together against me_] Heb. _Mussitant,_ they mutter, as charmers use to do. These whisperers are dangerous fellows, Romans 1:29, like the wind that creepeth in by chinks in a wall or... [ Continue Reading ]
_An evil disease, [say they], cleaveth fast unto him: and [now] that he lieth he shall rise up no more._ Ver. 8. _An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him_] Heb. A thing of Belial, a vengeance, hath befallen him; God, for his foul offence, hath put him over to the devil to be tormented by... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me. Ver. 9. _Yea, mine own familiar friend_] Heb. the man of my peace. This was a great cut to David, τιγαρ μειζον ελκος η φιλος αδικων, saith Sophocles. What greater wound can there be th... [ Continue Reading ]
But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. Ver. 10. _But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me_] As storms beat a ship into the harbour, so did men's misusages drive David to God; and as children, meeting with hard measure abroad, hie home to their parents, so here... [ Continue Reading ]
By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. Ver. 11. _By this I know that thou favourest me_] This is the triumph of trust and the fruit of faithful prayer; ever answered, sometimes before it is uttered, sometimes in, and sometimes alter the act; but we may b... [ Continue Reading ]
And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. Ver. 12. _And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity_] Which earth and hell had conspired to rob me of, but in vain, through thy help. My shield is yet in safety. My faith faileth me not, nor yet mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen. Ver. 13. _Blessed be the Lord God of Israel_] Thus he sweetly shutteth up this first book of the psalms (as some distinguish) with a pathetic doxology, redoubling his Amen, _Fiat, Fiat,_ to show his fervency,... [ Continue Reading ]