The Psalmist is suffering from an illness which threatens to be fatal.
Treacherous enemies, and among them one who had been a trusted friend,
eagerly anticipate his death. But his confidence in Jehovah remains
unshaken.
It is much disputed whether the Psalmist is to be thought of as still
lying on... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed_ Or, _happy_, as in Psalms 41:2, and in Psalms 1:1. The word
is to be distinguished from _blessed_in the doxology of Psalms 41:13,
the tribute of human reverence to divine majesty. The last Psalm in
Book I begins like the first with a beatitude.
_that considereth the poor_ Behaves considera... [ Continue Reading ]
The blessings in store for the compassionate man.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is possible to render as in P.B.V. and R.V. marg., _The Lord
perserve him … the Lord support him:_but it is more natural to
regard these clauses as descriptive of the blessings which await the
compassionate man, rather than as a prayer on his behalf.
_he shall be blessed upon the earth_ He shall... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord will support him upon the couch of languishing (R.V.), uphold
him (Psalms 18:35) and preserve him from sinking into the grave.
_thou wilt make all his bed_ Lit. thou hast turned (or, changed) his
lying down: changed his sickness into health. Cp. Psalms 30:11.
Instead of a general truth a p... [ Continue Reading ]
_I said_ Or, I, even I, have said. This has been and is my prayer.
Psalms 41:10 seems to imply that the sickness is not yet a thing of
the past.
_be merciful_ Be gracious (Psalms 4:1; &c.).
_heal my soul_ The soul is the man's whole -self;" the living
personality which results from the union of sp... [ Continue Reading ]
The foregoing sketch of the blessedness of the compassionate man
serves to introduce the Psalmist's description of his own case, partly
as a foil and contrast to the heartless treatment he is experiencing,
partly because he feels that he can himself plead for a share in the
mercy promised to the mer... [ Continue Reading ]
_speak evil of me_ R.V. against me. Psalms 41:5 takes up Psalms 41:2,
as Psalms 41:4 answers to Psalms 41:3.
_When_&c. The words of the enemies, expressing their impatient
eagerness for his death, and even for the extinction of his posterity.
Cp. Psa 109:13; 2 Samuel 18:18; Psalms 9:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
And if one _of them_comes to see _me_, he speaketh falsehood. If one
of these enemies comes to visit him, as was usual in sickness (2 Kings
8:29), he speaks vanity or falsehood (Psalms 12:2), makes hypocritical
professions of sympathy; though all the time _his heart it gathering
iniquity_or _mischie... [ Continue Reading ]
The scene outside the house is graphically depicted. We see the
associates waiting, eager for news. With a transparent pretence of
secrecy they whisper together, and divert themselves with anticipating
the worst.
_do they devise my hurt_ Or, _imagine evil for me_, indulging in
uncharitable speculat... [ Continue Reading ]
Render: A deadly mischief is poured out upon him.
The phrase _a thing ofbelial_is variously explained to mean _an
incurable disease_or _a matter of wickedness_(cp. note on Psalms
18:4). The use of it in Psalms 101:3 (_base thing_), and Deuteronomy
15:9 (_base thought_) points to the latter as the p... [ Continue Reading ]
_mine own familiar friend_ Lit. _the man of my peace_. Cp. Psalms 7:4;
Jeremiah 20:10; Jeremiah 38:22; Obadiah 1:7; and the similar
complaints of ingratitude in Psalms 35:12 ff., Psalms 55:12 ff. (where
the Heb. for _familiar friend_is quite different).
_which did eat_of _my bread_ Bound to me by th... [ Continue Reading ]
_But thou, O Jehovah_, in contrast to their malignity, _be thou
gracious unto me:_though they say -he shall rise up no more," _raise
me up._
that I may requite them The words have a vindictive ring, which is
startling, and seems inconsistent with Psalms 7:4; Proverbs 20:22. Yet
if the speaker was D... [ Continue Reading ]
After describing his urgent need, the Psalmist resumes his prayer from
Psalms 41:4, and affirms his confident assurance of God's favour.... [ Continue Reading ]
By this I know that thou delightest in me.
In the confidence of faith he can use the present: _I know_. Cp.
Psalms 20:6. For _delightest in me_, cp. Psalms 18:19; Psalms 22:8;
Psa 35:27; 2 Samuel 15:26.
_doth not triumph_ Lit. _raise a shout of victory_. Cp. Psalms 25:2 (a
different Heb. word); Psa... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Psalms 26:11; Psalms 63:8. _Thou upholdest_(lit. _hast upheld_) is
either a reference to past mercies, or more probably a retrospect from
the standpoint of deliverance granted. _In mine integrity_is no
contradiction to Psalms 41:4. Integrity (Psalms 7:8; Psalms 15:2) is
not synonymous with sinle... [ Continue Reading ]
This doxology is of course no part of the Psalm, but stands here to
mark the close of Book i. Cp. Psalms 72:18-19; Psalms 89:52; Psalms
106:48.
_Blessed_be _the Lord God of Israel_ Better as R.V., Blessed be the
Lord, the God of Israel. _Lord_answers to the Name Jehovah, and is not
an attribute to _... [ Continue Reading ]