_BLESSED IS HE THAT CONSIDERETH THE POOR: THE LORD WILL DELIVER HIM IN TIME OF TROUBLE._ Psalms 41:1.-Ground of the Sufferer's hope of deliverance, He who is merciful to the afflicted, shall obtain mercy, when afflicted himself (Psalms 41:1); such is the case of David now, afflicted by enemies (Psal... [ 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._ Thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies - namely, those enemies (Psalms 41:5) who 'come to gaze' at his pain, eager for his death. God... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LORD WILL STRENGTHEN HIM UPON THE BED OF LANGUISHING: THOU WILT MAKE ALL HIS BED IN HIS SICKNESS._ The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing - The Lord will sustain him by supplying strength, consolation, patience, etc. THOU WILT MAKE ALL HIS BED IN HIS SICKNESS. "Make" - lite... [ Continue Reading ]
_I SAID, LORD, BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME: HEAL MY SOUL; FOR I HAVE SINNED AGAINST THEE._ I said, Lord, be merciful unto me. The "I" is emphatic in the Hebrew - i:e., What I "said" in general of the mercy promised in distress to those who are merciful to others in their distress, applies to ME: it is I wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_MINE ENEMIES SPEAK EVIL OF ME, WHEN SHALL HE DIE, AND HIS NAME PERISH?_ Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? Their malicious speeches affected his bodily health, so that they hoped for his speedy death.... [ 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._ And if he come to see me. "He" - i:e., the wicked enemy. HE SPEAKETH VANITY - i:e., he hypocritically professes love. HIS HEART GATHERETH INIQUITY TO ITSELF. Or, as Hengs... [ Continue Reading ]
_ALL THAT HATE ME WHISPER TOGETHER AGAINST ME: AGAINST ME DO THEY DEVISE MY HURT._ All that hate me whisper together against me. Compare the last two clauses of Psalms 41:6, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AN EVIL DISEASE, SAY THEY, CLEAVETH FAST UNTO HIM: AND NOW THAT HE LIETH HE SHALL RISE UP NO MORE._ An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him - literally, 'a word' or 'thing of Belial is poured upon him.' Compare as to Messiah, the Antitype, "We did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_YEA, MINE OWN FAMILIAR FRIEND, IN WHOM I TRUSTED, WHICH DID EAT OF MY BREAD, HATH LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME._ Yea, mine, own familiar friend - literally, 'the man of my peace;' he who saluted me with the kiss of peace, as Judas did (Matthew 26:49; cf. the type, Jeremiah 20:10). IN WHOM I TRUS... [ Continue Reading ]
_BUT THOU, O LORD, BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME, AND RAISE ME UP, THAT I MAY REQUITE THEM._ The prayer based on the foregoing representation begins the fourth strophe. BUT THOU, O LORD, BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME - resumed from Psalms 41:4, in contrast to their unmercifulness (Psalms 41:4). AND RAISE ME UP - d... [ Continue Reading ]
_BY THIS I KNOW THAT THOU FAVOUREST ME, BECAUSE MINE ENEMY DOTH NOT TRIUMPH OVER ME._ Confident anticipation of his prayer being heard, since the cause and honour of God are at stake in his person. BY THIS I KNOW THAT THOU FAVOUREST ME, BECAUSE MINE ENEMY DOTH NOT TRIUMPH OVER ME - literally, 'do... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND AS FOR ME, THOU UPHOLDEST ME IN MINE INTEGRITY, AND SETTEST ME BEFORE THY FACE FOR EVER._ And as for me - in contrast to the doomed "enemy" (Psalms 41:11). THOU UPHOLDEST ME IN MINE INTEGRITY - i:e., on account of mine integrity; on account of my possessing that very character which brings wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL FROM EVERLASTING, AND TO EVERLASTING. AMEN, AND AMEN._ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen. Doxology, closing the first of the five books into which the Psalter is divided. Each of the five ends similarly, with a... [ Continue Reading ]