Psalms 41

David being fallen into a heavy sickness, or some other great straight, he describeth the blessing here which they are to obtain at Gods hands, that carry themselves piously and compassionately towards the afflicted. He prayeth to God for favour, and complaineth very feelingly of the bitterness of his false friends, especially of the unfaithfulness of a special one, that was a type of the traitor Judas; yet assureth himself of Gods favour and doth heartily praise him.

1. A Psalm of David, for the chief song-master. [See Psalm 4.on vers.1.

2. Right happy is he, that carrieth himself discreetly towards a miserable (one:) [The Hebrew word Dal doth signify one that is thin, meagre, exhausted of abilities, whether of the body, that is a sick one; or, of goods and means; i.e. a poor one (See Job 5.on verse 15.) Here it seems, that it doth signify a sick body. For David having been sick, or, (as some conceive) being yet not fully recovered, and having found how it had cheared godly compassion to visited and comfort him faithfully; and on the contrary, what a grief it was to him, that the hypocrites visiting him with a false heart, and had most basely censured and spoken of him behind his back, and still did; He in and by this Psalm thought good holily to thank and commend the godly ones, and to shame and confound his false friends, and covered enemies] the LORD shall deliver him in the day of the evil. [i.e. in the time of trouble and adversity.]

3. The LORD shall preserve him, and shall keep him alive, [Or, revive, heal him, make him whole. The Hebrew word (which properly signifies to quicken, or make alive) being likewise so taken thus] he shall be made happy on earth: [Compare 1 Tim.4.verse 8.or be held, esteemed, or praised happy] gave him not over neither, [or, Thou shalt (or will) not give him over. David addresseth his speed to God here] into the desire of his enemies. [Hebr. Into the soul; that is, here desire, pleasure, will See Psal.27.on ver.12.]

4. The LORD shall under prop him upon the sick-bed; [or, bed or couch of faintness, weakness, feebleness, feebleness] In his sickness thou dost changed all his couch. [Or, hast changed. i.e. Thou O God, shalt as surely turn his sickness to the best, as if I saw it already performed; spoken in a Prophetical manner. Or, thou turnest, or alterest all his couch.i.e. thou suppliest all human help unto him, that useth to be bestowed upon sick persons.]

5. I said; [viz. In my sickness. Oth. I say] : O LORD, he gracious unto me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.

6. Mine enemies speak evil of me, [This and what follows is taken by some, as if David went on relating, what he had complained and said further of his adversaries, before God, during his sickness, and accordingly, they read it thus; Mine enemies spake, &c. And sutably in the next two Verses] (saying) When shall he die, and his Name perish.

7. And if (any of them) come to see (me), [i.e. to visit me, to see how I do, how it fares with me] he speaketh falsehood, [he maketh shew, as if he meant it very cordially with me, but indeed wisheth me all the harm he can think of, and uttereth it freely, when he is gone from me and is among his companions] his heart gathered wrong to himself: [Or, iniquity, naughtiness, vexation malice.] (if) he goeth forth, he speaketh of it. [Or, (when) he goest out, he speaketh of it abroad.]

8. All my haters mutter together against me, [They talk together in private, within their mouth as it were, that the found is scarce heard to come forth: thus the same word is used.2. Sam.12.19.] they device against me that which is evil, [other, they device evil over me (that is) against me] (saying).

9. A Piece of Belial cleaves unto him: [Or, molests, troubleth him, as if they should say, sure he hath committed some Belials-trick, some mischief and villainy or other, therefore now is this Belials-plague (whereof some understand this) upon him; this now will rid him away once: even as Jobs friends condemned him for a wicked man, because of his strange sufferings. Of the word Belial, See Deut.13.on verse 13. And compare 2. Sam.22.5.] and he that lies down, shall not rise up again. [Heb. Not add, to go on to rise.]

10. Yea, the man of my peace, [My Ally, confederate, with whom I lived in peace. Compare 2 Sam.8.ver.10. Jer.20.on v.10. it Psa.55.on verse 21.] in whom I trusted, that ate my bread, [was dayly entertained at my table, with whom I lived in a very familiar manner] hath greatly exalted (or maginified; made great) his heels against me. [A similitude taken from those beasts that use to kick backward with their heels, and hurt them that come neer them; the sence is. This same false friend of mine, hath lifted up himself against me in a most foolish, brutish, faithless and unthankful manner, to throw me under foot, either by craft or by force. Compare Deut.32.15. These words are likewise referred and applied to the Traitor Judas and our Saviour (whose type David was) John 13:18. as divers other things throughout this Psalm, are pointing at Christ.]

11. But thou, O LORD, he gracious unto me, and life me up: and I will requite it them. [As being their Lord and Soveraign, appointed to punish the evil and to protect the good, I shall deal with them according to mine office and their desert. For albeit that thou dost justly chastify me, yet they can shew neither right nor reason, to deal thus unfaithfully and falsly with me their gracious Lord and Master.]

12. Hereby I know (Or have I observed,) that thou delightest in me: that mine enemy shall not shout over me. [That thou delivering me, doest thereby deprive mine enemy of the cause, to shout and triumph over my ruine, which he now seeks and wishes for.]

13. For, as concerning me, thou maintainest, or, hast maintained, underprop, supported] me in my uprightness; and thou puttest (or hast put) me before thy face for ever. [To have me always as in thine eyes, under thine inspection and fatherly care, and to preserve me graciously, that here I may serve thee as King, and hereafter behold thy glory forever.]

14. Prayed [Heb. Blessed] be the LORD, the God of Israel, from eternity, and in eternity, Amen. [of this word, see Num.5.on verse 22.] yea Amen. [This repletion of the word Amen, doth here signify a strong confidence and hearty zeal of the Prophet, serving to excite the like in the heart of all the godly.]