Ps. 41 THE ARGUMENT The occasion of this Psalm was manifestly some sore disease or affliction which God had inflicted upon David, and which gave his enemies opportunity to discover their hatred and malice against him. David showeth God’s care of the poor, Ps. 41:1–3.

That considereth; or, that carries himself wisely and prudently with or towards him, not rashly and foolishly censures and condemns him, as my pretended friends dealt with me, Ps.

Keep him alive, Heb. quicken him, i.e. revive and restore him. Either he will preserve him from trouble; or if God see trouble necessary or fit for him, and therefore suffer him to fall into it, he will raise him out of it. Unto the will of his enemies, i.e.

Either, 1. Change or overturn his bed of sickness; which is done when a man is restored to health. Or rather, 2. Give him ease and comfort, which sick men receive by the help of those who turn and stir their whole bed, to make it soft and easy for them; for the words foregoing and following these…

My soul, i.e. either, 1. Myself, to wit, my body. So it is a double synecdoche. And the soul is so taken Ps. 16:10. Or, 2. My soul properly so called; which is said to be healed, when it is pardoned and purged, as 2 Chron. 30:20, Isa. 53:5, compared with 1 Pet. 2:24, Matt.

Speak evil of me; vent their ill wishes against me, in the following words.

To see me; to visit me in my sickness, according to the custom. He speaketh vanity, or falsehood; pretending sympathy with me, and friendship to me, whilst they plot mischief in their hearts against me.

Whisper together against me, i.e. secretly defame me, and closely plot against me.

An evil disease, Heb. a word or thing of Belial, i.e. either, 1. Some wicked calumny which they had raised, and which stuck close to him. Or, 2. His great wickedness, whereof this is a sign. Or rather, 3.

Mine own familiar friend; he means either Ahithophel, or some other perfidious counsellor or courtier, who was a type of Judas, to whom therefore it is applied, John 13:18, as David was a type of Christ in being thus betrayed.

Be merciful unto me: they censure me grievously, and conclude my case to be desperate; but, Lord, do thou vindicate me, and confute them. That I may requite them; or, and I will requite them, i.e.

Thou favourest me; bearest a good will to me, and art resolved to make good thy promises to me, and wilt plead my righteous cause against them. Because mine enemy doth not triumph over me; because hitherto thou hast helped and supported me, and prolonged my days to the disappointment of their hopes…

In mine integrity; as I have kept my integrity, so thou hast kept me in and with it. Or, for mine integrity; because thou hast seen my innocency, notwithstanding all the calumnies of mine enemies; and thou hast promised and usest to afford thy protection to the innocent and upright.

From everlasting, and to everlasting; or, from age to age, as long as the world lasts, and to all eternity. Amen signifies a hearty assent and approbation, and withal an earnest desire and confidence, of the thing to which it is annexed.