Psalm 41:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.

NIV: The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.

NASB: The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health.

CSB: The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed; you will heal him on the bed where he lies.

NLT: The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.

KJV: The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

NKJV: The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.

This continues David's statement that God provides healing and protection for those who care for the disadvantaged (Psalm 41:1–2). David knew full well that even righteous people can suffer sickness, death, and defeat (Psalm 12:5; 22:1; 25:17). Yet this general principle applies: those who follow godly wisdom are less likely to suffer consequences than those who choose evil (Proverbs 8:32–36). A strong person who righteously protects the weak reflects that kind of godliness.

This verse serves as a transition, where David mentions the idea of the Lord healing someone from illness. In the following verse, he will speak of God's forgiveness of sin as a form of "healing." David's sin in the case of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:7–9) led to drastic consequences. Those included a rebellion by his son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15—18). Other psalms also express David's remorse for his crimes (Psalm 38; 39; 51). He realized that the Lord accepts the prayer of a repentant believer. In the remainder of the psalm, he describes the attacks of his enemies and his confidence that God will bring him through those dangers.

The apostle James speaks of how a believer ailing due to sin can receive healing. He writes: "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14–15).

Psalm 41:1–4 extols the virtue of those diligent to care for the disadvantaged. In this case, David suggests that God provides such persons with special protection from trouble and hardship. This includes their reputation. This is not a blanket promise, but rather one of the lessons David took from his experiences. The following verses speak about betrayal and plotting; likely this was the rebellion of Absalom and Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15—18). That David endured that situation, brought about by his own sin, reflected on his overall obedience to God's will.

David observes that blessing comes to the person who shows kindness to the poor. As someone who did just that, David perceives that God is working to protect him from the schemes of his enemies. He admits he has sinned and declares that his enemies want to see him die. These hypocrites scheme and plot while telling lies. Even a close friend has turned into an enemy. David is certain the Lord will vindicate him and not allow his enemy to be victorious over him. He believes the Lord has upheld him and given him assurance of everlasting life in His presence. He concludes Psalm 41 by ascribing praise to the Lord, Israel's God, who is eternal.

This is the last entry in what is often considered the first "book," or major division, of the Psalms. Echoing themes of Psalms 38 and 39, David cries out to the Lord about sin and sickness. This passage refers specifically to betrayal and pressure from enemies. That makes the likely historical context the rebellion led by David's son, Absalom. During that series of events, David's close counselor, Ahithophel, betrayed him (2 Samuel 15—18).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.