Bible Commentaries
Psalms 41

Verse 1

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

Title. A Psalm = Mizmor. See App-65 .

of David = by David, and relating to the true David.

Blessed. See App-63 .

the poor = weak, or feeble. Hebrew. dal. Not the same as Psalms 40:17 .

will deliver = may the LORD deliver . . . preserve.

in time of trouble = in the evil day.

Verse 2

keep him alive = revive, so as to live again; hence, to give life to: here, in resurrection. Hebrew. Piel conjugation, to give life, quicken. Compare Psalms 119:25 , Psalms 119:37 , &c. Deuteronomy 32:39 . Job 33:4 . Hence, to preserve seed (Genesis 19:32 , Genesis 19:34 ); to repair, in the sense of restoring what was lost (1 Chronicles 11:8 , Nehemiah 4:2 .Hosea 6:2 ; Hosea 14:7 . Hos 85:6 ).

will = soul. Hebrew. nephesh.

Verse 3

the bed = the couch.

Verse 4

be merciful = be gracious, or show favour.

my soul = me.

I have sinned. Christ could say this of those whose sins He was bearing, which were laid upon Him. sinned. Hebrew. chata. App-44 .

Verse 6

he come: i.e. the traitor; then Ahithophel, afterward Judas (see Psalms 41:9 ).

speaketh. Note the lying lips, the evil heart, the wicked slander.

Verse 8

An evil disease = a thing of Belial. Compare Psalms 101:3 .Deuteronomy 13:13 ; Deuteronomy 15:9 . Judges 19:22 . 1 Samuel 2:12 . See 2 Samuel 16:7 .

Verse 9

mine own familiar friend: i.e. the one whom I was in the habit of saluting as my friend.

whom I trusted. These words not quoted by Christ (John 13:18 ), for He knew what was in man (John 2:24 , John 2:25 ).

trusted = confided. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

which did eat, &c. Quoted in John 13:18 .

bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 . for all kinds' of food.

Verse 10

requite. Suited for that Dispensation. See App-63 .

Verse 11

favourest = delightest, or hast pleasure in. Compare Matthew 3:17 ; Matthew 12:18 ; Matthew 17:5 .Isaiah 42:1 .

triumph = shout with triumph.

Verse 12

Thy face. See note on Exodus 34:20 .

Verse 13

Blessed, &c. Hebrew. barak, not 'ashrei, as in Psalms 41:1 and the Beatitudes ( App-63 ). This Doxology concludes the first book of Psalms, also the second book (Psalms 72:18-20 ). They were the words of David when he brought up the Ark (1 Chronicles 16:36 ), also in 1Ki 1:47 , 1 Kings 1:48 , when this group (37-41) was written; also in 1 Chronicles 29:10 . They are taken up again in Luke 1:68-70 .

to everlasting: i.e. to the age to come.

Amen = Truth. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for solemn emphasis.

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .