Psalms 41

1 in finem in intellectum filiis Core

2 quemadmodum desiderat cervus ad fontes aquarum ita desiderat anima mea ad te Deus

3 sitivit anima mea ad Deum *fortem; vivum quando veniam et parebo ante faciem Dei

4 fuerunt mihi lacrimae meae panis die ac nocte dum dicitur mihi cotidie ubi est Deus tuus

5 haec recordatus sum et effudi in me animam meam quoniam transibo in loco tabernaculi admirabilis usque ad domum Dei in voce exultationis et confessionis sonus epulantis

6 quare tristis es anima mea et quare conturbas me spera in Deo quoniam confitebor illi salutare vultus mei

7 Deus meus ad me ipsum anima mea conturbata est propterea memor ero tui de terra Iordanis et Hermoniim a monte modico

8 abyssus *ad; abyssum invocat in voce cataractarum tuarum omnia excelsa tua et fluctus tui super me transierunt

9 in die mandavit Dominus misericordiam suam et nocte canticum eius apud me oratio Deo vitae meae

10 dicam Deo susceptor meus es quare oblitus es mei quare contristatus incedo dum adfligit me inimicus

11 dum confringuntur ossa mea exprobraverunt mihi qui tribulant me dum dicunt mihi per singulos dies ubi est Deus tuus

12 quare tristis es anima mea et quare conturbas me spera in Deum quoniam *adhuc; confitebor illi salutare vultus mei *et; Deus meus

Psalms 41 Commentary

Chapter 41

God's care for his people. (1-4) The treachery of David's enemies. (5-13)

Verses 1-4 The people of God are not free from poverty, sickness, or outward affliction, but the Lord will consider their case, and send due supplies. From his Lord's example the believer learns to consider his poor and afflicted brethren. This branch of godliness is usually recompensed with temporal blessings. But nothing is so distressing to the contrite believer, as a fear or sense of the Divine displeasure, or of sin in his heart. Sin is the sickness of the soul; pardoning mercy heals it, renewing grace heals it, and for this spiritual healing we should be more earnest than for bodily health.

Verses 5-13 We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and that there is scarcely any true friendship to be found among men; but the former days were no better. One particularly, in whom David had reposed great confidence, took part with his enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive evil from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus broken our words toward God? We eat of his bread daily, yet lift up the heel against him. But though we may not take pleasure in the fall of our enemies, we may take pleasure in the making vain their designs. When we can discern the Lord's favour in any mercy, personal or public, that doubles it. If the grace of God did not take constant care of us, we should not be upheld. But let us, while on earth, give heartfelt assent to those praises which the redeemed on earth and in heaven render to their God and Saviour.

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. In this psalm is a prophecy concerning Christ, and concerning Judas Iscariot, as runs part of the title in the Syriac version; and in the Arabic version it is called a prophecy concerning the incarnation, and the salutation of Judas; and certain it is that Psalm 41:9 is to be understood of him, and of his betraying Christ into the hands of his enemies, since it is cited and applied to him by our Lord himself, John 13:18; so that having such a sure rule of interpretation, we may safely venture to explain the whole psalm of Christ, which treats both of his humiliation and exaltation; for it neither agrees with David wholly, nor with Hezekiah, to whom some ascribe it, as Theodoret remarks.