Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 41
Overview:
God's care for his people.
(1-4) The treachery of
David's
enemies.
(5-13)
1-4 The people of
God are not free from poverty, sickness, or
outward affliction, but the
Lord will consider their case, and
send due supplies. From his
Lord's
Example the believer learns
to consider his
Poor and afflicted brethren. This
Branch of
Godliness is usually recompensed with temporal blessings. But
nothing is
So distressing to the contrite believer, as a fear or
sense of the Divine displeasure, or of
Sin in his
Heart.
Sin is
the sickness of the soul; pardoning
Mercy heals it, renewing
Grace heals it, and for this spiritual healing we should be more
Earnest than for bodily health.
5-13 We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and
that there is scarcely any true friendship to be found among
men; but the former days were
No better. One particularly, in
whom
David had reposed great confidence, took part with his
enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive evil
from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus
broken our words toward
God? We eat of his
Bread daily, yet lift
up the heel against him. But though we may not take pleasure in
the fall of our enemies, we may take pleasure in the making vain
their designs. When we can discern the
Lord's favour in any
Mercy, personal or public, that doubles it. If the
Grace of
God
did not take constant care of us, we should not be upheld. But
let us, while
On Earth, give heartfelt assent to those praises
which the redeemed
On Earth and in
Heaven render to their
God
and
Saviour.