Psalm Forty One

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

Psalm 41:2 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.

Psalm 41:3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

sickness. This is the only time this word is used in the Book of Psalms. It is the same word translated “grief” in Isaiah 53:3.

Psalm 41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Psalm 41:5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

Psalm 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.

Psalm 41:7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

Psalm 41:8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

familiar friend. This prophecy was fulfilled by Judas at the Last Supper (John 13:18), thus confirming that the main context of the psalm is the betrayal of Christ.

Psalm 41:10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

Psalm 41:11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

Psalm 41:12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

Psalm 41:13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Amen, and Amen. Book I of the Psalms closes with this doxology. Note also Psalm 72:18-20; 89:52; 106:48; 145:21; 150:6. A similar doxology ends each of the five books in the Psalms.