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. 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. 12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. (Psalm 41:7-12 KJV)
Thomas Haweis
Verses 5-13: They who live in a wicked world, may expect to meet with much deceit, as David did, to the great discomfort of his soul.
1. They spoke against him with inveterate rancour, and wished every evil might attend him; death seize his body, and oblivion blot out his name for ever. And thus did Christ’s enemies revile him with every opprobrious character, wish and contrive his death, and hope that then the memory of his miracles, and the doctrines of his gospel, would perish with him. But lo! Their malice makes his memorial more glorious and abiding. Let not Christ’s servants count it strange, then, if the worst wishes and words attend them; their Lord hath suffered it before them.
2. If they came on pretence of paying him a friendly visit, Ps 41:2 their professions were hypocrisy, their designs malignant, to observe his words and behaviour, that they might report it to his disadvantage. The scribes and Pharisees for this purpose attended the Saviour, to entangle him in his talk; and whilst they pretended to admire him in his preaching and piety, sought to impeach him as a teacher of sedition, Mt 22:17. If we meet with the same deceitful men, and hear the most invidious remarks or misrepresentations made of us, it was so from the beginning.
3. They flattered themselves they should sooner or later prevail. In secret they whispered, plotted their wicked devices, and when an evil disease, some dangerous sickness seized him, or as the words literally may be rendered, a word of Belial, some vile aspersion they had forged and propagated, cleaved to him, then they hoped he would never again recover his health or his character. Such whisperers contrived the Saviour’s death, with perjured evidence the sons of Belial swore against him, and having procured his condemnation and death, and sealed his sepulchre, they promised themselves he should never rise up again. How vain the hopes, as well as vile the efforts of wicked men!
4. His bosom friend betrayed him, Ps 41:9 perhaps Ahithophel, sought to spurn him from his throne, in return for the most obliging kindness. Ingratitude is a sin as common as odious. We are assured, Joh 13:18 that David looked farther than his own case. Judas the traitor was his familiar friend, and from the table where Jesus fed him, went to the priests to betray him. Put not your trust in any child of man, friends will be faithless; the Friend of Sinners alone will never deceive nor disappoint those who trust him.
5. He directs his prayer to God, Ps 41:10 for mercy and help, that he may requite them, either do them good for their evil, or rather, as their King, punish them for their wickedness: and such support he would interpret, and rejoice in, as a sure sign of God’s favour and regard. In answer to the Redeemer’s prayer, he was raised from the dust of death, and with swift destruction recompensed his enemies into their own bosom. Neither Satan nor all the powers of darkness, nor the high-priest and all his wicked train, were permitted to triumph, when in the resurrection day, all their devices were confounded; and He, of whom they said, Persecute him, for there is none to deliver him, arose then most eminently declared to be the Son of God with power. Note, The very trials we are exposed to, serve to make the love of God to our souls more evident and precious.
6. He expresses his confidence of being kept in faithfulness of God’s everlasting kingdom; and he acknowledges the work must be entirely of God’s grace, both to uphold and reward him, Ps 41:12. The Son of David, in unspotted integrity, stood fast; and after an obedience unto death, received the reward in glory, where now he sits at God’s right hand, enthroned for evermore. May we come in his good time to sit down by him! In order thereto, we must be sensible, 1. That the work is entirely of grace, either that we are called or kept. 2. That, left to ourselves, we must inevitably fall. 3. That those whom God upholds, none can prevail against; but in time and eternity they are safe.
7. He concludes with a thanksgiving for such a glorious hope; and well he deserves the everlasting praise who brings the soul to everlasting blessedness. The whole Israel of God, in the view of the glorious and finished work of redemption in Christ Jesus, cannot but echo back the sound, with hearts warm with gratitude, and bursting with gladness. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen, Amen!