1.
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
Title. A Psalm = Mizmor. See App-65 .
of David = by David, and relating to the true David.
Blessed. See App-63 .
the poor = weak, or feeble. Hebrew. dal. Not the same as Psalms 40:17 .
will deliver = may the LORD deliver . . . preserve.
in time of trouble = in the evil day.
2.
The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
keep him alive = revive, so as to live again; hence, to give life to: here, in resurrection. Hebrew. Piel conjugation, to give life, quicken. Compare Psalms 119:25 , Psalms 119:37 , &c. Deuteronomy 32:39 . Job 33:4 . Hence, to preserve seed (Genesis 19:32 , Genesis 19:34 ); to repair, in the sense of restoring what was lost (1 Chronicles 11:8 , Nehemiah 4:2 .Hosea 6:2 ; Hosea 14:7 . Hos 85:6 ).
will = soul. Hebrew. nephesh.
3.
The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
the bed = the couch.
4.
I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
be merciful = be gracious, or show favour.
my soul = me.
I have sinned. Christ could say this of those whose sins He was bearing, which were laid upon Him. sinned. Hebrew. chata. App-44 .
5.
Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6.
And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
he come: i.e. the traitor; then Ahithophel, afterward Judas (see Psalms 41:9 ).
speaketh. Note the lying lips, the evil heart, the wicked slander.
7.
All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
8.
An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
An evil disease = a thing of Belial. Compare Psalms 101:3 .Deuteronomy 13:13 ; Deuteronomy 15:9 . Judges 19:22 . 1 Samuel 2:12 . See 2 Samuel 16:7 .
9.
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
mine own familiar friend: i.e. the one whom I was in the habit of saluting as my friend.
whom I trusted. These words not quoted by Christ (John 13:18 ), for He knew what was in man (John 2:24 , John 2:25 ).
trusted = confided. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .
which did eat, &c. Quoted in John 13:18 .
bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 . for all kinds' of food.
10.
But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
requite. Suited for that Dispensation. See App-63 .
11.
By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
favourest = delightest, or hast pleasure in. Compare Matthew 3:17 ; Matthew 12:18 ; Matthew 17:5 .Isaiah 42:1 .
triumph = shout with triumph.
12.
And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
Thy face. See note on Exodus 34:20 .
13.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
Blessed, &c. Hebrew. barak, not 'ashrei, as in Psalms 41:1 and the Beatitudes ( App-63 ). This Doxology concludes the first book of Psalms, also the second book (Psalms 72:18-20 ). They were the words of David when he brought up the Ark (1 Chronicles 16:36 ), also in 1Ki 1:47 , 1 Kings 1:48 , when this group (37-41) was written; also in 1 Chronicles 29:10 . They are taken up again in Luke 1:68-70 .
to everlasting: i.e. to the age to come.
Amen = Truth. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for solemn emphasis.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .