Faithlife Study Bible (Biblia.com)

41:title–13 In this thanksgiving psalm, the psalmist recounts Yahweh’s blessing and provision to those who are generous to the impoverished (vv. 1–4). The psalmist also recounts that when others gave up on him and offered no comfort (vv. 5–9), he asked Yahweh for help (v. 10) and was upheld (vv. 11–12). The concluding verse is most likely a doxology that concludes Book One of the Psalms (Pss 1–41; see note on 1:1–6).

41:title music director See note on 4:title.

A psalm of David See note on 3:title.

41:1 Blessed is See note on 1:1.

the one who has regard for the poor Those who are generous to the poor or weak honor God (Prov 14:31) and enjoy His protection.

41:3 Yahweh sustains him on his sick bed After describing Yahweh’s protection in general terms, the psalmist explains how He sustains and restores the sick.

41:4 I have sinned against you The psalmist suffered physically because of his sin (see note on Ps 38:11), but he confessed his sin and asked for Yahweh’s help.

41:5 When will he die Rather than help or comfort him (see 35:13–14 and note), the psalmist’s enemies anticipate his death.

41:6 he speaks falsely The visitors speak worthless and empty words (see note on 12:2) instead of comfort. Like Job’s friends, they probably worsened the psalmist’s suffering with accusation (Job 13:4–5; 21:34).

41:9 Even my close friend Even those close to the psalmist have abandoned him in his sickness (see Ps 55:13 and note).

The psalmist’s friends had given up on him. They may have had little regard for his faithfulness. The psalmist, however, describes himself as one who considers the poor (vv. 1–3). This suggests that the psalmist’s friends may have shown a lack of trust in Yahweh.

41:10 But you, O Yahweh, be gracious to me The psalmist asks Yahweh not to abandon him, as his friends have, but to graciously restore him.

41:11–12 The psalmist closes with thankfulness to Yahweh for upholding him. He attributes this to his integrity, probably in reference to his generosity toward the poor (see note on 26:1; 41:1–3).

41:13 Blessed be Yahweh Each book of Psalms closes with a doxology of praise, like the one in this verse (72:18–20; 89:52; 106:48; 150:6; see note on 1:1–6). These doxologies should be viewed as independent from their respective psalms.

The Compilation of the Psalter WBC Vol. 19

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