PSALM XLI _The blessedness of the man who is merciful to the poor_, 1-3. _The psalmist complains of his enemies, and prays for support_, 4-10; _and blesses God for having heard his prayer, and preserved him_ _from his adversaries_, 11, 12. _A fine doxology closes the Psalm_, 13. NOTES ON PSAL... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:2. _THE LORD WILL PRESERVE HIM, AND KEEP HIM ALIVE_] It is worthy of remark, that _benevolent persons_, who _consider_ the _poor_, and especially the _sick poor_; who _search cellars, garrets, back_ _lanes_, and _such abodes of misery_, to find them out, (even in the places where con... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:3. _THE LORD WILL STRENGTHEN HIM_] Good, benevolent, and merciful as he is, he must also die: but he shall not die as other men; he shall have peculiar consolations, refreshment, and support, while passing _through the valley of the shadow of death_. _THOU WILT MAKE ALL HIS BED_] הפ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:4. _I SAID, LORD, BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME_] I need thy mercy especially, because I have sinned against thee, and my sin is a _deadly wound_ to my _soul_; therefore _heal_ my _soul, for it has_ _sinned against thee_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:5. _MINE ENEMIES SPEAK EVIL_] It is often a good man's lot to be evil spoken of; to have his _motives_, and even his most _benevolent acts_, misconstrued.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:6. _AND IF HE COME TO SEE_ ME] This may relate to _Ahithophel_; but it is more likely that it was to some other person who was his secret enemy, who pretended to come and inquire after his health, but with the secret design to see whether death was _despatching his work_. WHEN _HE G... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:7. _ALL THAT HATE ME WHISPER TOGETHER AGAINST ME_] This is in consequence of the _information_ given by the _hypocritical_ _friend_, who came to him with the _lying tongue_, and whose _heart_ _gathereth iniquity to itself_, which, when _he went abroad_, he told to others as ill-minde... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:8. _AN EVIL DISEASE, SAY THEY, CLEAVETH FAST UNTO HIM_] דבר בליעל יצוק בו _debar beliyaal yatsuk bo_, a _thing, word_, or _pestilence of Belial, is poured out upon him_. His disease is of no common sort; it is a _diabolical_ malady. _HE SHALL RISE UP NO MORE._] His disease is incura... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:9. _MINE OWN FAMILIAR FRIEND_] This is either a direct prophecy of the treachery of Judas, or it is a fact in David's distresses which our Lord found so similar to the falsity of his treacherous disciple, that he applies it to him, John 13:18. What we translate _mine own familiar fri... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:10. _RAISE ME UP_] Restore me from this sickness, _that I may_ _requite them_. This has also been applied to our Lord; who, knowing that he _must die_, prays that he _may rise again_, and thus disappoint the malice of his enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:11. _BY THIS I KNOW THAT THOU FAVOUREST ME_] If thou hadst not been on my side, I had perished by this disease; and then my enemies would have had cause to triumph. This also has been applied to our Lord; and _Calmet_ says it is the greatest proof we have of the divinity of Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:12. _THOU UPHOLDEST ME_] I am still enabled to show that my heart was upright before God. _SETTEST ME BEFORE THY FACE FOR EVER._] Thou showest that thou dost _approve_ of me: that I stand _in thy presence_, under the smiles of thy approbation. This also has been applied to our Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 41:13. _BLESSED_ BE _THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL_] By all these circumstances and events glory shall redound to the name of God for ever; for the _record_ of these things shall never perish, but be published from one generation to another; and it has been so. _FROM EVERLASTING, AND TO EVERL... [ Continue Reading ]