Psalms 41
DOYLYPsalms 41:6
- — mine ears hast thou opened: ] This phrase seems to signify, the fitting and disposing the ear to hear God’s will. It is remarkable, that the Greek version, as well as the quotation from it in Heb. x. 5, instead of the phrase, “Mine ears hast thou opened,” reads, “A body hast thou prepared me:” intimating the great superiority of Christ’s death to the sacrifices of the law. Travell, Edwards.
— burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.] That is, considered independent of that holiness of life, without which, sacrifice never could have been acceptable to a holy and righteous God. Dr. Magee.
Psalms 41:7
- — Lo, I come: &c.] Lo, I come to make an offering of myself by a sincere obedience unto thee; as Christ will also actually do, by offering up his body to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world: In the volume of the book of the law it is thus written, or required of all truly religious persons, particularly of kings, and so of me in both respects, to be careful to offer a due obedience to thy will, as well as to legal sacrifices. Dr. Wells.
— in the volume] Or “roll,” of the book. See Jer. xxxvi. 2, &c. It is well known that the ancient Jewish books did not, like ours, consist of distinct
leaves bound together; but were, as the copies of the Pentateuch used in the Jewish synagogue still are, long scrolls of parchment, rolled upon two sticks, with the writing distinguished into columns. Parkhurst.
Psalms 41:9
- I have preached &c] I have proclaimed thy mercy and goodness to me before thy people, in their full assemblies. Bp. Patrick.
Psalms 41:12
- — mine iniquities] He means the evils which his iniquities had brought upon him. Bp. Hall. By this expression, as relating to Christ, is meant, the iniquities of mankind which He had taken upon Himself. Bp. Wilson.
The Church, like her Redeemer, is often poor and afflicted in this world, but Jehovah thinketh upon her, and is solicitous for her support; she is weak and defenceless, but Jehovah is her help and her deliverer. With such a Father, and such a Friend, poverty becometh rich, and weakness itself strong. In the mean time, let us remember, that He who once came in great humility, shall come again in glorious majesty. “Make no long tarrying, O our God.” Bp. Horne.
Psalm XLI. It is not improbable that this Psalm was written by David after his sickness, when Absalom