Blessed [is] he that considereth the poor
Not the poor of the world in common, nor poor saints in
particular, but some single poor man; for the word is in the
singular number, and designs our Lord Jesus Christ, who, in (
Psalms
40:17 ) , is said to be "poor and needy": and so read the
Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Ethiopic versions here; who became
poor for our sakes, that we might be enriched by his poverty;
being born of poor parents, educated in a mean manner, and in
public life was ministered to by others: the word F17 here
used signifies one that is attenuated, weak, and exhausted either
of his substance or strength, or both; as Christ was in his state
of humiliation, when he was emptied of his riches, and, though
Lord of all, had not where to lay his head; and whose strength
was dried up like a potsherd, when he suffered on the cross; and
indeed at best he was encompassed with weaknesses and
infirmities: and in this his low estate he is to be wisely
considered, or attended to with wisdom and understanding; and he
may be said wisely to consider him, who considers how great a
person he is, that came into such a low estate for us; not a mere
man, but above angels and men, that has all the perfections of
deity in him, is the eternal Son of God, truly and properly God,
and the Creator of all things, and Governor of the universe;
which consideration will engage to and encourage faith and hope
in him, lead to adore his wonderful grace, and to admire his
condescension and humility in becoming poor and weak; as also who
considers that the poverty of Christ was for our sakes, and that
we might be made rich with the riches of grace and glory; and
considers it so as not to be offended with it; see ( Matthew 11:6
) ( 13:57
) ; and which may serve to support us under all meanness and
infirmity, and in whatsoever estate saints may come into; and
likewise who considers him in his offices which he exercised in
that his estate as the apostle and high priest of our profession;
and him in his exalted state in heaven; see ( Hebrews 12:3
) ( 3:1 ) (
7:4 ) (
8:1 ) ; in a
word, he wisely considers him, who believes in him as his
Saviour, prizes him as the pearl of great price, cleaves close
unto him, and follows him wherever he goes; who desires to know
more of him, is concerned for his honour, interest, kingdom and
glory, and pities his poor members, and freely and bountifully
communicates to them; and so the Targum,
``blessed is the man that wisely considers the afflictions of the poor, that he may have mercy on him;''and such an one is an happy man, and the following things said of him prove him to be so;
the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble:
or "in the evil day" F18; out of all his trouble, temporal
and spiritual, of body and soul; in every time of affliction,
private and personal; or in a time of public calamity; perhaps
reference may be had to the time of Jerusalem's destruction,
which was a time of great tribulation, ( Matthew
24:21 ) ; when those who did not consider Christ in his poor
and low estate, but despised and rejected him, were destroyed;
and such as did were saved from that calamity: and it may also
include the day of judgment, which is the evil day, unto which
the wicked are reserved, and when they will be punished with
everlasting destruction; but then those that consider Christ, and
believe in him, will be saved from wrath. Some F19 take
these words, with what follows in the two next verses, as a
prayer, and as delivered by him that visits the sick, for his
comfort; and so Joseph Kimchi interprets it of an honourable man
visiting a sick man, and instructing and comforting him with such
words as these, that "the Lord will deliver him"