Psalms 41

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Though some will have this Psalm to have been composed by David, and delivered to the chief master of music, only upon occasion of that great strait, into which he was brought by the rebellion of his son Absalom; yet it is the more common opinion, and seems moreprobahle, that he had been also lately very sick. And then finding, by sad experience, what an aggravation it was of his affliction, to see his enemies so barbarous as to rejoice at it, and wish his death; nay, his friends, especially some one particular friend (who was a type of the traitor Judas), not only to take no pity on him, but prove false and perfidious to him; he, in the first place, highly commends and blesses that temper of mind which inclines men to be pitiful and compassionate to those that are sick, and assures such persons that they shall feel the happy fruits of it; and then complains most heavily of their inhumanity, who insulted over him in his calamity, and with reproachful words and vile calumnies exasperated the grief of his mind. On which he hoped God, who loves merciful men, would take compassion, and put him into a condition to chastise their insolence.

Psalms 41:1

JSlESSED is he that considered the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Happy is that tender-hearted man, who, prudently considering it maybe his own condition, doth not despise, but visit the sick, especially such as are poor, and takes care to* comfort and relieve them. The Lord “will requite his kindness, and send him the like succour and relief when he’ falls into any danger.

Psalms 41:2

The Lord will preserve Mm, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou tvilt not deliver him tinto the will of his enemies. In sickly times, or other public calamity, the Lord will preserve his life; ajid more than that, will make him live in prosperity upon the earth; which when the envy and hatred of his enemies endeavour to destroy, the Lord will disappoint them, and not suffer them to have their will on him.

Psalms 41:3

The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of Ian guishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.* Or if any sickness (as no man can expect always to be in health) bring him into such a languishing condition, that he cannot help himself, the Lord will support him, and give him patience: then thou wilt remarkably requite his officious care about the sick (whose bed he was wont to turn and smooth for his softer Tepose), by.giving him ease and refreshment during his weakness, till thou change it again into health and strength.'

Psalms 41:4

I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. In confidence of this, I myself, when I was sick, addressed my prayer unto the Lord, and implored his mercy, saying, Take pity upon me, (who have not been negligent in this duty, Psal. xxxv. 13, 14.) and do not dearin strict justice with me; but, though I have been a grievous offender, and so deserved a heavier stroke, graciously pardon all that I have done amiss, and restore me again to rayformer health.

Psalms 41:5

Mine enemies speak evil of me; When shall he die, and his name perish?. I ani the fitter object of thy compassion, because my enemies have none at all; but, to trie’ affliction which thou hast laid upon me, add their defamations, andimprecatc more evils to befal me: for nothing will satisfy them but my death \ which they impatiently long to see, and hope to bury my reputation together with me.

Psalms 41:6

And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. If any of them, indeed, come to sec me, he seems to be sorry for me, and condoles with me; but there is nothing but fraud and deceit under these fair words, which he bestows upon me: for all the lime that he either counsels or comforts me, or makes any promises of what he will do for me, he is hatching some mischief in his heart against me, from what he can gather out of my words, or actions, or disease; and as soon as he is out of my doors, he spreads it abroad among his companions, to increase their hatred, or their contempt of me:

Psalms 41:7

All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do tliey devise my hurt. Which discovers itself in their private assemblies, where they secretly confer together how to undo me: they have no other business there, but to contrive what use they shall make of his information for my ruin.

Psalms 41:8

An evil disease, say they, clcavethfast unto him:

Psalms 41:13

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me. Till I think of thee, O Lord, who, I hope, wilt be still pleased to deliver me; yea, thou hast been so very good to me, that I take the humble boldness ■ to beseech thee, O Lord, to deliver me speedily.

Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil. Let them all be alike most shamefully disappointed, that restlessly endeavour to take away my life: defeat them, and put them to flight, with open disgrace, whoever they be that study to do me any mischief.

Let tn^m be desolate for a reward of their shame, that say anto me, Aha, aha!. Let utter desolation be the recompence of all theif shameful deeds, whereby they thought to have exposed me to shame: when they insulted over me, and made a mock both of my affliction and of my trust in thee. Ver.* 16. Let all those that seek after thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.] But let all those that depend on thee alone, and seek for safety by no other means but those which thou allowest, have perpetual cause to rejoice in thee exceedingly: let such as expect and delight to see thee appear for the deliverance of thy people, never cease to say, The Lord be praised: let the glory of his wonderful works be every w r here published and extolled.

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. As for myself, this is my never-failing comfort, that though I am stripped of all, and quite destitute of human help, yet the Lord takes care of me, and consults my good: and it is sufficient, that thou Lord art my God, on whom I depend for relief and deliverance j O delay not to send it to me.