Lesson Learned

Psalm 41:1-13 English Standard Version

What lessons have you learned in life? How have the things you’ve learned given you confidence to trust in the Lord?

Psalm 41 contains:

1. The Conclusion of a Lesson Learned (Psalm 41:1-3)

2. The Circumstances of a Lesson Learned (Psalm 41:4-10)

3. The Confidence from a Lesson Learned (Psalm 41:11-12)

A confession of sin links Psalms 38-41 together.

Psalm 41 concludes Book One of the Psalms (Psalms 1-41 (3-41)).

Psalm 41:title

1. To the choirmaster.

2. A Psalm of David.

ONE: The Conclusion of a Lesson Learned (Psalm 41:1-3)

Psalm 41:1a

1. Blessed is the one who considers the poor!

a. Blessed - blessed adj. — characterized by happiness and being highly favored (as by divine grace).

b. The word “blessed” connects Psalm 41 with Psalm 1:

i. Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

ii. Psalm 1:2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

1. In Psalm 1 the person who delights in God’s law is blessed; in Psalm 41 the person who considers the poor is blessed.

a. There must be a practical application of God’s word.

i. James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

c. Poor- low, poor, helpless, powerless, insignificant,[1]

Psalm 41:1b-3

1. Six Blessings of Considering the Poor:

a. (v.1) In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;

b. (v.2) the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;

c. he is called blessed in the land;

d. you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.

e. (v.3) The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;

f. in his illness you restore him to full health.

i. Hebrew you turn all his bed[2]

2. Similarities:

a. Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

b. Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

TWO: The Circumstances of a Lesson Learned (Psalm 41:4-10)

Psalm 41:4

1. As for me, I said,

a. Literally: I, I said

b. “The petition of verse 4, because it is cited (I said), may refer to an earlier petition.[3]

2. O Lord,

a. be gracious to me;

b. heal me,

i. for I have sinned against you!”

Psalm 41:5

1. My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?”

a. As McCann has noted, “The enemies clearly do not show any awareness of the beatitude of v. 1a.”16 The content of what they say bears this interpretation out. [4]

b. It is possible the perishing of one’s name refers to the absence of an heir to one’s family property. This would explain the significance of the promise in the opening verses: “he will bless him in the land” (v. 2). If so, this sheds light on the enemies’ motive, namely economic greed. They may have become my enemies, not merely because they spread slander … abroad, but also because they wish for his death (vv. 7–8) so his real estate can become theirs. [5]

Psalm 41:6

1. And when one comes to see me,

a. he utters empty words,

b. while his heart gathers iniquity;

2. when he goes out,

a. he tells it abroad.

Psalm 41:7

1. All who hate me whisper together about me;

2. they imagine the worst for me.

Psalm 41:8

1. They say,

a. Contrast (v.4) I said,

2. “A deadly thing is poured out on him;

3. he will not rise again from where he lies.”

Psalm 41:9

1. Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

a. the friend of my good health (meaning the person who was happy to stand by me when I was healthy)[6]

i. 2 Samuel 15:12 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel [uh HITH oh fel] the Gilonite [GIGH loh night], David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.

c. In a metaphorical sense, the lifting of the heel may suggest the turning and walking out on one in time of need or lifting the heel and crushing one’s opponent.[7]

Psalm 41:10

1. But you,

a. contrast with v.4: As for me and v.5: My enemies

2. Lord, be gracious to me,

a. Inclusio with v.4: O Lord, be gracious to me;

3. and raise me up,

a. Contrast with v.8:he will not rise again from where he lies.

4. that I may repay them!

a. Psalms typically ask the Lord to repay their enemies which was the generally accepted ethic of the time.

1. Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

b. The suppliant is promising to seek right relations with the people who have broken friendship.[8]

THREE: The Confidence from a Lesson Learned (Psalm 41:11-12)

Psalm 41:11

1. By this I know that you delight in me:

2. my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.

Psalm 41:12

1. But you have upheld me because of my integrity,

2. and set me in your presence forever.

Doxology for Book One (Psalm 41:13)

Psalm 41:13

1. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

a. The Hebrew word for “[blessed] praise be” is the passive participle baruk (often translated as “blessed”). [9]

b. [A] feature of this psalm that deserves comment is the closing verse of doxology: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen. Each of the five books of the Psalter ends with such a doxology (cf. 72:18–19; 89:52; 106:48; 150:6). With the exception of Psalm 150, these doxological phrases are generally not considered by scholars to be parts of the psalms that they conclude, but are considered editorial additions to these psalms (but see below).[10]

i. Psalm 72:18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.

ii. Psalm 72:19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

iii. Psalm 89:52 Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.

iv. Psalm 106:48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!

v. Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Jesus’ use of Psalm 41:

John 13:18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

Like the Psalmist:

1. Jesus’ enemies slandered Him and sought His harm.

2. Jesus’ friend betrayed Him.

3. Jesus is the friend of those who have sinned against Him.

4. Jesus was raised by the Lord when others thought He would not be

5. Jesus is seated in the presence of God the Father forever and forever, and

6. Jesus’ suffering brings praise to God the Father.

[1] Koehler, L., Baumgartner, W., Richardson, M. E. J., & Stamm, J. J. (1994–2000). The Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon of the Old Testament (electronic ed., pp. 221–222). Leiden: E.J. Brill. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [3] Hubbard, R. L. J., & Johnston, R. K. (2012). Foreword. In W. W. Gasque, R. L. Hubbard Jr., & R. K. Johnston (Eds.), Psalms(p. 193). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. 16 “The Book of Psalms,” p. 847. [4] Jacobson, R. A., & Tanner, B. (2014). Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1–41. In E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, & R. L. Hubbard Jr. (Eds.), The Book of Psalms (p. 388). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. [5] Hubbard, R. L. J., & Johnston, R. K. (2012). Foreword. In W. W. Gasque, R. L. Hubbard Jr., & R. K. Johnston (Eds.), Psalms(p. 193). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. [6] Jacobson, R. A., & Tanner, B. (2014). Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1–41. In E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, & R. L. Hubbard Jr. (Eds.), The Book of Psalms (p. 388). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. [7] Bullock, C. H. (2015). Psalms 1–72. (M. L. Strauss & J. H. Walton, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 316). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. [8] Goldingay, J. (2006). Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Psalms 1–41. (T. Longman III, Ed.) (Vol. 1, p. 587). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. [9] Bullock, C. H. (2015). Psalms 1–72. (M. L. Strauss & J. H. Walton, Eds.) (Vol. 1, pp. 316–317). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. [10] Jacobson, R. A., & Tanner, B. (2014). Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1–41. In E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, & R. L. Hubbard Jr. (Eds.), The Book of Psalms (p. 384). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.