Psalms 41:2

2 The Lord keep him, and quicken him, and make him blessful in the land; and betake not him into the will of his enemies. (The Lord shall keep him safe, and alive, and make him happy in the land; and he shall not deliver him unto the power, or the will, of his enemies.)

Psalms 41:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 41:2

The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive
Amidst a thousand deaths, to which he is exposed for making a profession of his faith in Christ; see ( 2 Corinthians 1:10 ) ( 2 Corinthians 4:10 2 Corinthians 4:11 ) ( 6:9 ) ; or this may refer to his spiritual life, which is hid and preserved in Christ, in whom he believes; and is safe and secure; because Christ lives he shall live also, and shall never die the second death, nor be hurt by it, but shall have everlasting life;

[and] he shall be blessed upon the earth;
with temporal blessings; for whatever he has, be it more or less, he has it with the blessing of God, and as a blessing of the covenant, and in love, and so is a blessing indeed: and with spiritual blessings; with peace, pardon, righteousness, and a right and title to eternal glory and happiness; and he will be blessed in the new earth, in which righteousness will dwell, and where he will dwell, live, and reign with Christ a thousand years;

and thou wilt not deliver him into the will of his enemies;
not into the will of Satan, that roaring lion who would devour him if he might; nor of wicked men, and furious persecutors, whose wrath the Lord makes to praise him; and the remainder of it is restrained by him; some read these words as a prayer, "do not thou deliver him" see ( Psalms 27:12 ) ; so Pagninus, Montanus, Junius and Tremellius, Ainsworth, and others.

Psalms 41:2 In-Context

1 For victory, the song of David. Blessed is he that understandeth of the needy man and poor; the Lord shall deliver him in the evil day. (To victory, the psalm of David. Happy is he who hath concern for the poor and the needy; the Lord shall save him on the evil day/the Lord shall rescue him in his time of trouble.)
2 The Lord keep him, and quicken him, and make him blessful in the land; and betake not him into the will of his enemies. (The Lord shall keep him safe, and alive, and make him happy in the land; and he shall not deliver him unto the power, or the will, of his enemies.)
3 The Lord (shall) bear help to him on the bed of his sorrow; thou hast oft turned all his bedstraw in his sickness.
4 I said, Lord, have thou mercy on me; heal thou my soul, for I have sinned against thee.
5 Mine enemies said evils to me; When shall he die, and his name shall perish?
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.