Psalm 41
I was struck by the benefits accorded a person who gives to the poor – s/he is blessed, delivered, protected, praised, defended, sustained, and healed. (vv. 1-3) Makes me think that we should be doing more…
David ties his sin and his illness together in verse 4. Shades of Job’s friends…! But this illness seems more pronounced than what he felt in his previous laments; in this one it seems that David is on his deathbed. His enemies are gloating, waiting for him to die. Even one of his best friends has turned against him. (v. 9) Here I have Amasa in mind – David’s nephew, who deserted him and became Absalom’s chief general. David had even called him “my bone and my flesh” (see II Samuel 19), so his desertion must have been painful for David. The Psalms are divided into five books, possibly mirroring the Pentateuch. Today’s Psalm ends Book I. Verse 13 is thus a concluding doxology for the Book, less so for the Psalm.
V. 1-9 is the lament and v. 13 is the praise at the end of a lament. But verses 10-12 are of a different tone. V. 10: David asks the Lord to raise him up…so that David can repay his enemies? v. 11: David knows God is pleased with him…because David’s enemies don’t triumph over him? v. 12: God holds him fast…because of David’s integrity? Somehow this isn’t the humble shepherd boy David, though he clearly loves God and is a man after His heart. But David seems older now, perhaps looking back at his life. I tend to agree with Fred that David may be on his deathbed. Or maybe he is musing that, despite his illness and sins, he still has confidence in his integrity and that he pleases God…