40:9 the good news of righteous. This word for "good news" in Heb. (cf. the root in Is. 40:9; 41:27; 52:7; 60:6; 61:1) is the precursor of the NT terminology for the "gospel" and "preaching the gospel," i.e., "announcing the good news." "Righteousness" is identified as God’s righteousness in the next verse (v. 10).

40:10 David’s spirit here was encountered previously in Ps. 22:22, 23.

40:12 Cf. Both external persecution and internal perversity in Ps. 38.

40:13–17 See notes on Ps. 70.

41:1–13 The words of this psalm are general and apply to anyone who might be considered "down." The most painful and specific factor addressed here is the insult which is being added to the psalmist’s injury (cf. Pss. 6; 38; and portions of Job and Jeremiah). While the form and structure of Ps. 41 is quite complex, "blessed" serves as bookends in vv. 1, 13. Within these, other elements include 1) confidence (vv. 1b–3, 11, 12), 2) prayers (vv. 4, 10), and 3) lament (vv. 5–9), with moments of wisdom and praise. David’s message in Ps. 41 speaks of God’s tender, loving care in the critical care unit of life.

I. Recognizes Human Compassion (41:1a)

II. Revels in God’s Care for the Compassionate (41:1b–3)

III. Requests Grace, Health, and Forgiveness (41:4)

IV. Rehearses the Meanness that He Has Experienced (41:5–9)

V. Requests Grace, Health, and Retribution (41:10)

VI. Revels in God’s Care for Him Personally (41:11, 12)

VII. Recognizes Divine Compassion (41:13)

41:1 Blessed. On this "blessed," cf. Pss. 1:1; 2:12.

41:2 And he will be blessed on the earth. The verb "be blessed" is from the same Heb. root as the exclamatory description "blessed" of v. 1 (on other occurrences of the verb, cf. Prov. 3:18; 31:28; Song 6:9).

41:3 You will sustain him on his sickbed. This pictures God as Physician dispensing His tender, loving care

41:4 for I have sinned against You. The ancient Near Eastern association of sin and sickness returns (cf. Pss. 31:10; 32:5; 38:3, 4, 18; 40:12; etc.). On the explicit combination of "sinning against," cf. Ps. 51:4. This perspective of the psalmist does not negate the reference to his basic "integrity" in v. 12.

41:6 And if he comes … he goes out. This hypocritical "sick call" really adds insult to injury. The visitor lies to the sick one and gathers "information" for more slander.

41:9 Even my own familiar friend … lifted up his heel against me. David’s close companion betrayed him; he kicked him while he was "down." The Greater David’s experience and the employment of this reference in John 13:18 was to Judas (cf. Matt. 26:21ff.).

MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., pp. 778–779). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.