Psalm 41 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Psalm 41 Short Summary:

In Psalm 41, David blesses those who help the poor, promising them God's help during their times of trouble. David then talks about his own suffering, and his hope in God's mercy and healing. He laments the betrayal of friends and the ill will of his enemies. Despite his struggles, David expresses his trust in God's goodness, concluding with a blessing of praise.

Psalm 41 Summary

AUTHOR:

• David is the author of Psalm 41.

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:

• John 13:18

THEMES:

• God blesses those who help the poor.

• God helped David recover from a sickness and triumph over his enemies.

OUTLINE:

• BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO CONSIDERS THE POOR (41:1-3):

  • David begins this psalm talking about the benefits a man who cares for the poor will receive from the Lord.

  • The type of poverty is not specified, this may refer to someone poor in money or poor in spirit.

  • God will protect the man who cares for the poor, guide him through trouble, and help him recover from sickness.

• DAVID’S SICKNESS (41:4-10):

  • David seems to imply that he was such a man, and he asked God to heal him. He needed healing from the sickness of sin, but it also appears he had some kind of physical sickness.

  • David’s enemies were hoping he would never recover. They asked, “When will he die, and his name perish” (41:5)?

  • Even some of his friends betrayed him. They joined in with the wicked wishing for David to never get up from his sickbed.

  • David asked God to be gracious to him by healing him.

• DAVID’S CONFIDENCE IN GOD (41:11-13):

  • In the final 3 verses, David expressed his confidence that God would not let his enemies “triumph over” him.

  • He blessed the Lord in the confidence that he would recover.
    

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE:

• In Psalm 41:9, David talked about the betrayal of a friend. This friend had “lifted up his heel” against David to do him harm.

• After Jesus had washed His Apostle’s feet in John 13, He predicted that one of them would betray him.

• He was speaking about Judas Iscariot, the man who identified Jesus to the Jewish officials with a kiss.

• Jesus prophesied Judas’ betrayal before it happened using the words of Psalm 41:9.

• Like David, Jesus was betrayed by a friend. Judas repaid Jesus’ kindness with a shameful act.