DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 41 David describes the contrasts between the friends and the enemies of God and the differences in how God treats each. The occasion for the Psalm is unknown; but the two most troublesome times in David's life came at the hands of Saul and of Absalom. The Psalm best applies to the betrayal of his chief counselor, Ahithophel, during the rebellion of Absalom. The painting above points to the ultimate reference in this Psalm, the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 1 Samuel 19-31. 2 Samuel 15-18. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 41 - #1. Psalm 41 - #2. Psalm 41 - #3. ]

     David begins his Psalm by citing the blessedness of the righteous man and closes it with reference to the blessedness of the LORD God of Israel. He says that the one who considers the poor is blessed because the LORD will deliver him in the time of trouble. He will preserve him, cause him to be blessed, and will not give him to the will of his enemies. He will strengthen him in languishing and sickness (1-3). On this basis, David asks the LORD to be merciful to him and heal his soul because he sinned against him. He notes that his enemies speak evil of him and hope for his death. When they visit him they speak vanity; and in their iniquity they go out and tell David's secrets (4-6). They whisper against David and devise his hurt. They think that an evil is upon him which will destroy him. Even his trusted friend turned against him. This may refer to the betrayal of David by David's chief counselor, Ahithophel, in 2 Samuel 15, 16, and 17. Such a betrayal also happened to Christ when he was betrayed by Judas (7-9). But David asks the LORD to be merciful to him and to repay his enemies. He knows that God favors him because his enemies do not triumph over him. God upholds him in his integrity and sets him before his face. Therefore, he blesses God forever (10-13).

Blessed is he that considereth the poor:
the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
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.
³ The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:
thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

⁴ I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul;
for I have sinned against thee.
⁵ Mine enemies speak evil of me,
When shall he die, and his name perish?
⁶ And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity:
his heart gathereth iniquity to itself;
when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

⁷ All that hate me whisper together against me:
against me do they devise my hurt.
⁸ An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him:
and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
⁹ Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted,
which did eat of my bread,
hath lifted up his heel against me.

¹⁰ But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me,
and raise me up, that I may requite them.
¹¹ By this I know that thou favourest me,
because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
¹² And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity,
and settest me before thy face for ever.
¹³ Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

¹ To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. [Transposed From Psalm 42:1] *

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]