Psalms 41

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

This psalm closes the first book of the Hebrew Psalter. Its strong resemblance to Psalms 38:0 indicates a similar occasion, while the prominence given to the perfidy of David’s intimate companion and table friend allies it to Psalm lv; but with this difference: the treachery of Ahithophel had now only first discovered itself as giving secret encouragement to Absalom’s plot “All that hate me whisper together against me,” Psalms 41:7 while in Psalm lv, the mask is fully thrown off. See 2 Samuel 16:15-23. We must, therefore, date this psalm earlier, while the conspiracy was still immature. David is sick, and his life hangs in doubtful suspense. His enemies are active, hypocritical, and cruel; visiting him under friendly pretensions, but whispering abroad slanders; professing fealty, but concocting rebellion. The internal evidence of the psalm shows that it was written after his forgiveness and moral restoration, though still suffering personal judgments. In Psalms 41:9 we find a marked type of Judas Iscariot in the faithless friend of David, and the Messianic principle pervades the psalm, with respect both to the character of Christ and that of his persecutors. Both David and Christ were watched by wily enemies under the guise of friendship; both were betrayed by intimate friends; and the traitors in both cases came to a similar end. See 2 Samuel 17:23 and Matthew 27:5. The psalm falls into three general divisions: Psalms 41:1-3, are introductory, and set forth the blessedness of him who considereth the poor; Psalms 41:4-9, contain a complaint against his enemies; Psalms 41:10-12, are a prayer for recovery, with expressions of gratitude and trust. The last verse is a doxology in the form of epilogue.