Psalm 41

Authorship

This Psalm was authored by David.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. Blessings on the compassionate person. (1-3)

A. The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

B. The Lord will preserve him.

C. The Lord will keep him alive.

D. He shall be blessed upon the earth.

E. He will not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

F. The Lord will strengthen him upon his sickbed.

II. A prayer for mercy: Be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee. (4) III. The uncompassionate enemy. (5-9)

A. The enemy speaks evil.

B. They anticipate my death.

C. They speak vanity.

D. Their heart gathers iniquity to itself.

E. They spread rumors.

F. They devise hurt.

G. They claim he has an evil disease, the result of sin.

H. They “lift up their heel” against him.

IV. A compassionate God. (10-12)

A. Is merciful.

B. Will raise him up so he can requite them.

C. Will express favor for the psalmist by not permitting the enemy to triumph.

D. Upholds his integrity.

E. Sets him before His face forever.

V. The psalmist blesses God from everlasting to everlasting. (13)

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 41,2(1) אֶל דָּל {B} MT, εβρ, λοιπ, Hebr, S, T // harm: G

Ps 41,3(2)A וְאֻשַּׁר {C} MTQ, Hebr // assim-ctext: G, S, T / err-graph: MTK, σ'

Ps 41,3(2)B תִּתְּנֵהוּ {B} MT, T // assim-ctext: G, σ', Hebr, S

Ps 41,10(9) {A}