Psalms 41:0 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
Another psalm that David sent to the Head Musician for use at the tabernacle.
Psalms 41:1 ¶ Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
Psalms 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.
Psalms 41:3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
David declares the man to be happy that teaches and helps (from Hebrew for “considereth”) those that are in need because the LORD will take care of him in return. He will protect that man from his enemies and strengthen him when he is sick.
In context, it would seem that David is taking comfort from the knowledge that he had done much to help the needy.
David taught his son Solomon this truth, and told him that to help the poor was to serve the LORD.
Proverbs 19:17 “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
I liked this quote Guzik used from Kidner: “Implies giving careful thought to this person’s situation, rather than perfunctory help.”
And from Spurgeon: “The promise is not that the generous saint shall have no trouble, but that he shall be preserved in it, and in due time brought out of it. How true was this of our Lord! never trouble deeper nor triumph brighter than his, and glory be to his name, he secures the ultimate victory of all his blood bought ones.”
Psalms 41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
David asks the LORD for mercy and healing for his soul while admitting that he has sinned. He is essentially repenting of his sin. He knows that his sin deserves this judgment, but he pleads for God to act in mercy and not give him what he deserves. The wording gives the impression that such sin is an aberration in his life, not characteristic of his way of life. In light of the opening verses, I think he is expecting a positive response because of how he has treated those in need.
I liked the way Guzik stated it: “…A confession without excuse, a confession without qualification, a confession without superficiality.”
Psalms 41:5 ¶ Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
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.
Psalms 41:7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
Psalms 41:8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
It seems that David was suffering physically as well as emotionally as a result of his sin, fueling hope among his enemies that it might lead to his death. After coming to visit him, supposedly as his friend, they promptly go out and spread gossip that he is dying in consequence of his sin, hoping to cause him harm.
Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
It seems that one of David’s closest friends had turned against him and was the primary source of betraying and accusing him before others.
Jesus quoted from this psalm, identifying it as prophecy, when telling his disciples that one of them would betray Him.
John 13:18 “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”
Barnes: “It is remarkable that, in the reference to Judas, the Saviour quotes only a part of the verse: ‘He that eateth bread with me.’ He omits, apparently from design, the former part of the verse in the psalm, “mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted,” as if he would not even seem to convey the idea that he ever regarded Judas as his intimate friend, or as if he had ever really ‘trusted’ him. He conveys the idea that Judas had partaken largely of his favors, but not that He himself was ever really a stranger to the baseness of his heart.”
John 6:64 “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”
Verse 9 is one of those verses that reminds me that all scripture is a part of the whole in telling the story of Jesus, just as He told the two men on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection.
Luke 24:27 & 44 “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself….. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”
Psalms 41:10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
Psalms 41:11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
David asks the LORD to show him mercy and heal him to prove them wrong. He would then know that God still favored him.
Psalms 41:12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
Psalms 41:13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
David believed that the LORD would answer his prayer because of his honesty and transparency before Him, and he expects to enjoy the pleasure of His presence forever. For that truth he praises the LORD God of Israel, calling for Him to be adored forever.
Psalms 42:0 ¶ To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.
The term “Maschil” indicates an instructive poem. The “sons of Korah” seems to be indicative of the temple singers and musicians.
2 Chronicles 20:19 “And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.”
Many commentators believe that Psalms 42 and 43 are a unit; note that there is no identifying preface with Psalm 43. Though David is not identified as the author, it certainly sounds like his writing.
Psalms 42:1 ¶ As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psalms 42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
This song issues forth from the heart of one who intensely desires close fellowship with his God, the God of Israel. He paints a word picture of a thirsty deer desperately searching for water with which to quench its thirst. He is deliberate in identifying his God as “the living God,” not an impotent idol or false god. The following verses show the last half of verse 2 as an expression of desire to go to the temple, “the house of God.” His circumstances are evidently preventing him from enjoying that privilege.
I think Jewish people of faith in “Israel” had a special connection with the temple as God’s dwelling place on earth. When they went to the temple, they were making a personal connection with God. We as believers could greatly benefit from that mindset if we would recognize our churches as that place—a place of personal connection with the LORD—as more than just a place of fellowship among friends or part of our weekly routine.
Psalms 42:3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
The psalmist is so emotionally distraught that he can’t hold back his tears; he’s weeping continually. This is a powerful picture of despondency when I think of David, or any other “man” for that matter, as the author; men are not usually so transparent with their emotions. The psalmist is being taunted by his enemies about the apparent impotency of “his God.”
Because of their lack of spiritual insight, people often wrongly interpret the circumstances of people of faith in relationship to the sovereignty and power of Almighty God, giving no thought to the fact that there is always a purpose for good that He allows one of His children to endure that time of trouble. Job is by far the prime example of this truth.
Psalms 42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
The wording of this verse in the KJV is a bit confusing; I like the CJB: “I recall, as my feelings well up within me, how I’d go with the crowd to the house of God, with sounds of joy and praise from the throngs observing the festival.”
When the psalmist says he is pouring out his soul, he is expressing the intensity of his emotions. His sorrow is multiplied in direct contrast to how much he had enjoyed worshipping at the temple.
It is very sad but true, that we often don’t truly appreciate what we have until we lose it. We are so blessed in America to be able to gather together with other believers and to have the right to worship as we choose, but I fear that we are on the fast track to losing that freedom. As I update this psalm in October of 2020, that fear is ever more evident.
Psalms 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
In this verse the psalmist begins to give himself a pep talk. He realizes that he is focusing on his circumstances rather than on God. It’s at this point that he needs to remember how God has provided for him and his people in the past. He needs to trust that God is sovereign and is allowing his circumstances according to His purposes. I can’t help but be reminded of my life verse and the precious truth declared by Paul in his letter to the Romans.
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Psalms 42:6 ¶ O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
Psalms 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
“Hermonites” = “the Hermons,” the three peaks or summits of Hermon, which are about a quarter of a mile apart (Easton’s)
“Mizar” = smallness, a summit on the eastern ridge of Lebanon (Easton’s)
Still, the psalmist is honest in expressing his discouragement before God even as he determines to remember the times when God had showed up on his behalf. I would assume that Jordan, the Hermonites and Mizar are all places that are part of those memories.
Verse 7 seems to be the psalmist’s expression of his understanding that his circumstances have been allowed by God—“thy waterspouts…thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” “Deep calleth unto deep” and “waterspouts” may be a reference to the tears that surface as a result of the despair in his heart from the depths of his being as the waves and billows of sorrow wash over him.
God is so gracious to give us so many examples in scripture of men of faith who struggle during hard times—times when it seems as though God has forgotten them or turned His back on them. David is by far the most transparent through the psalms. These mighty men of faith struggled with despair and doubt at times just as we do, and God is always faithful to “show up” on their behalf in His time according to His purpose.
Psalms 42:8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
In this verse the psalmist is taking comfort from God’s constant provision for him—both day and night. I thought of the day in reference to the good times and the night in reference to the hard times. It’s easy to recognize God’s blessings when things are going well, but we often have to find sustenance through remembrances of those blessings (as expressed in song for the psalmist) and through prayer. Those times of prayer allow us to praise God for who He Is and increase our faith as we meditate on that truth—His character, His power, His authority, His love, etc.
Psalms 42:9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psalms 42:10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
Psalms 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
The psalmist is transparent regarding the spiritual roller coaster of his emotions. He is fighting with discouragement because he doesn’t understand why God is allowing his enemies to prevail at this point. He seems to be struggling the most because he has been so vocal about the faithfulness of God’s provision on his behalf, and now they are mocking him for that faith. Then he once again pulls himself up by the bootstraps and takes the focus off his circumstances and refocuses on the faithfulness and provision of God—even if he must be patient as he waits for deliverance. As declared so often throughout the psalms, he knows that God is the rock of our salvation.
Psalms 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Psalms 62:7 “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.”
Psalms 94:22 “But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.”
The psalms are so important because they teach us to pour out our hearts before the LORD, to be honest before the LORD. They also teach us that faith in the LORD is the key to being a spiritual overcomer. They teach us to keep our focus on the LORD, not on our circumstances. They teach us to praise the LORD at all times.