Psalms 41, King James Version
Questions answered from Psalms 41
Chuck Smith on Psalms 41
Verse by verse, taught on Sunday nights: the C2000 series, 1979 to 1985, and the C3000 series, 1985 to 1999. Permission granted by The Word For Today.
Sunday Nights, 1979 to 1985 (C2000)
Chapter introduction
Let us turn at this time in our Bibles to Psalm 41. This is another one of the psalms that begins with a beatitude. The very first psalm begins with a beatitude, "Blessed is the man."
Verse 1
Here again,
Blessed is he that considereth the poor, the LORD will deliver him in the time of trouble (41:1).
Now the Bible has much to say about God's concern and God's interest with the poor. And God is constantly exhorting us in His Word that we should be concerned for the poor. That we should seek to help the poor. It is biblical that our concern should be for the poor. In fact, there is a scripture that says, "He that lendeth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord" (Proverbs 19:17). So if ever you want to loan the Lord anything, go out and find a poor person and lend them some money. Not looking, really, for a return from them, but just looking to the Lord to return it to you. Because really you are lending to the Lord, and He actually pays fantastic interest. "Blessed is he who considers the poor." One of the blessings, "The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble."
Verses 2–3
Secondly,
The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou will not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all of his bed in his sickness (41:2-3).
Now, it is an interesting thing that the psalmist speaks of God in such a personal kind of a way. If you have been generous towards the poor, if you have been interested in giving to the poor, among other things, God will take care of you when you are sick in bed. Now, this is an interesting concept concerning God, and is certainly far from the pagan concepts of their gods. Can you imagine this being said of Jove? Or of Jupiter or of Buddha or whatever? That he will take care of you when you're sick in bed. And yet, we think of God in these beautiful, intimate kind of relationships, of even watching over us when we are sick. When we are languishing on our bed, taking care of us.
Now, this is the first part of the psalm. The first three verses declaring, really, the interest, the concern, and the blessedness if we will just take care of the poor. The interest we should have, the concern for the poor.
Verses 4–5
Now he turns to his own case and he said,
I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? (41:4-5).
This is what his enemies were saying, "When is he going to die, when is he going to perish?"
Verse 6
And if he comes to see me he, speaks emptiness: his heart gathereth iniquity to himself; and when he goeth abroad, he tells it (41:6).
He comes and he sort of, you know, interrogates me. Or he acts in very friendly, gets me to confide in him, and then he goes out and tells everything that I have confided.
Verses 7–8
And,
All that hate me whisper together against me: and they seek to devise my hurt. They say an evil disease cleaves fast to him: and now he is lying down, he is not going to rise again (41:7-8).
As the psalmist is crying out his woe, in the next verse, actually, he utters a prophecy concerning Jesus Christ and His betrayal by Judas Iscariot.
Verse 9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me (41:9).
In the thirteenth chapter of the gospel of John, verse 18, Jesus quotes this verse as referring to Judas Iscariot and the betrayal of one of His own followers. So it is interesting that as the psalmist is speaking of his own position, that suddenly he lapses over into prophecy and speaks to the Lord.
Verses 10–12
But thou, LORD, be merciful unto me, raise me up, that I may requite them. By this I know that thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, you uphold me in mine integrity, and you set me before thy face for ever (41:10-12).
And the psalm closes with a benediction.
Verse 13
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen (41:13).
Now this is the end of the first book of psalms. There are actually five books of psalms. Some of the old Bible scholars see in the five books of psalms sort of a sequel to the five books of Moses, the five books of the Pentateuch. In the five books of the Pentateuch you find God speaking unto man, giving the laws, and establishing the covenant with man. In the Psalms, they see in the five psalms the sequel to the Pentateuch, only it is now man expressing himself to God in his worship and his praise and all. Whether or not they can actually be tied together, the five books of the psalms with the five books of the Pentateuch, is a thing for theologians to worry about. We don't need to concern ourselves with it. However, each of the books of the psalms do end with a benediction, similar to what we have here, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting. Amen, and amen."
Sunday Nights, 1985 to 1999 (C3000)
Chapter introduction
In the forty-first Psalm this is a messianic psalm meaning it has a prophecy concerning Jesus.
Verse 1
BLESSED is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble (41:1).
Throughout the Psalms and Proverbs there are many Psalms and Proverbs that relate to the poor. I think that this is not as in the previous psalm “poor in spirit” but I think that this is just a person who is poor or in poverty.
The Bible says, “He that lends to the poor lends to the Lord”. We should be concerned with those who are poor. Let me say I really am thrilled to be associated with you people here because I believe that for the most part your lives are extemporarily of what God would have a Christian to be. The tremendous concern that is expressed here for people in need. I have the blessed privilege of controlling the benevolent fund of the church and thus being able to distribute unto the poor those funds that have been earmarked for benevolence, for the needy. Through the years it has been a real privilege to be able to help so many hundreds of people who are in need. It’s just one of those remarkable things. Nothing has ever been said about it. This is the first time I’ve ever made mention of it. It’s something that God has provided and continues to provide and it’s a privilege to be able to dispense to the poor those funds that the Lord has provided.
Verses 2–5
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. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? (41:2-5).
Poor David, he was a melancholy no doubt. He was so harassed by his enemies and they were very bitter enemies. They were just waiting for him to die, his name to perish.
Verse 6
And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity [emptiness]: (41:6).
They come and talk without any real depth, just chitchat.
his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it(41:6).
Asking questions trying to learn things, trying to get information. They come and they talk like they are really concerned, “Well, how are you doing?” and when you go ahead and try to tell them, “I haven’t been feeling good of late” then they go out and they spread it. They come in like they are being nice and friendly and yet they have this terrible hatred.
Verse 7
All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt (41:7).
They are plotting against me.
Verse 8
An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more (41:8).
This is it, I’m going to die.
Now the prophecy concerning Jesus and Jesus in John chapter five quotes this as a reference to him.
Verse 9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me (41:9).
It is a prophecy concerning the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. Jesus, when he spoke of one of his disciples betraying him, made reference to this as a prophecy.
Verses 10–13
But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen (41:10-13).
Verse 13
This brings us to the end of book one of the Psalms. Each of the books of the Psalms ends with the “Amen, and Amen” but the “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen (41:13). Book one is over.