Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 41:12
And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face forever.
12. Cp. Psa 26:11; Psa 63:8. Thou upholdest (lit. hast upheld) is either a reference to past mercies, or more probably a retrospect from the standpoint of deliverance granted. In mine integrity is no contradiction to Psa 41:4. Integrity (Psa 7:8; Psa 15:2) is not synonymous with sinlessness.
and settest me before thy face for ever ] His enemies hope that his name will perish. He knows that he will be admitted to stand in the presence of the King of Kings. Cp. Psa 11:7 (note); Psa 16:11; Psa 17:15; Psa 61:7; and the fundamental promise in 2Sa 7:16 (read before me with LXX).
Thus the first book of the Psalter ends with a hope, destined to be illuminated with a new light by the revelation of the Gospel. See Rev 22:4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And as for me – literally, and I; as if there were some verb understood. The reference is turned on himself; on all that was suggested by this train of remark as bearing on himself. The result of the whole was a firm assurance that God would sustain him, and that he would be established before God forever. The train of thought is this: And I… thou upholdest me. Perhaps the course of expression, if it had not been suddenly changed, would have been, And I am sustained or held up. The thought, however, turns rather on God than on himself, and instead of carrying out the reference to himself so prominently, he turns to God as the source from where all this was derived.
Thou upholdest me – Not merely in strengthening me in my sickness, but, what is more important, in vindicating my character against the aspersions which are cast upon it. Thou dost show that I am upright.
In mine integrity – literally, in my perfection. See the notes at Job 1:1. The word here means uprightness, sincerity, probity. He had been calumniated by his foes. His sickness had been regarded by them as a proof that he was a hypocrite or a stranger to God. If he had died, they would have urged that fact as evidence that he was the object of the divine displeasure. His restored health was clear proof that their suggestions were false, and that he was not suffering for the cause which they alleged. God thus showed that he regarded him as upright and sincere. The claim is not that of absolute perfections, but only of a character of piety or integrity in opposition to the slanderous charges of his enemies. Compare Psa 7:8; Psa 25:21; Psa 26:1, Psa 26:11.
And settest me before thy face for ever – That is, Thou wilt do it. God would always have him in his presence, permit him always to dwell with him – the highest proof of his friendship.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. Thou upholdest me] I am still enabled to show that my heart was upright before God.
Settest me before thy face for ever.] Thou showest that thou dost approve of me: that I stand in thy presence, under the smiles of thy approbation.
This also has been applied to our Lord, and considered as pointing out his mediatorial office at the right hand of God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In mine integrity; as I have kept my integrity, so thou hast kept me in and with it. Or, for mine integrity; because thou hast seen my innocency, notwithstanding all the calumnies of mine enemies; and thou hast promised and usest to afford thy protection to the innocent and upright.
Settest me before thy face for ever; or, hast confirmed or established me in thy presence (i.e. either under thine eye and special care; or to minister unto thee, not only in thy temple, but as a king over thy people, or in that land, where thou art peculiarly present) for ever; either,
1. Properly; and so this was done to David, either in his own person, partly here, and partly in the next life; or in regard of his posterity, in whom the kingdom was established for ever. Or,
2. For my whole life, or for a long time, as that phrase is commonly used.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. settest . . . before thyfaceunder thy watch and care, as God before man’s face(Ps 16:8) is an object of trustand love.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity,…. In the innocence of his nature, being free from sin, original and actual; in the uprightness of his life and conversation before God and men; and in the perfection of his obedience and sacrifice, whereby he brought in a perfect righteousness, made complete atonement, and obtained full salvation and redemption for his people; and, because of all this, Jehovah the Father upheld him in his sufferings, as man and Mediator, that he failed not, and was not discouraged: or rather the sense is, that by several things which turned up in Providence, as the disagreement of the witnesses, declaration of his judge, and the confession of Judas his betrayer, he was cleared of the charges brought against him, and his innocence was maintained, and he upheld in it; but especially this was done by raising him from the dead, when he was openly acquitted, discharged, and justified, and declared to be the Holy One of God, 1Ti 3:16;
and settest me before thy face for ever; after his resurrection, he was introduced into the presence of his Father, and was made glad with his countenance; where he sits before him as the Angel of his presence, and appears in the presence of God in the behalf of his people; is the Lamb in the midst of the throne, as though he had been slain; where his person, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, are ever in view for their acceptance, and where he ever lives to make intercession for them; for here he will continue until the time of the restitution of all things.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12 And as for me, thou wilt uphold me in my integrity Some expound the clause thus: That, as David followed after uprightness, God had stretched out the hand to him. But this interpretation does not agree very well with a preceding sentence, in which he acknowledged that he had been justly punished by God. The calamity which had befallen him exposed him to the insult and derision of his enemies; but it is not likely that they were the authors of it: and hence, it would have been out of place to have adduced his integrity for this purpose, because the Lord is said to have respect to our integrity, when he defends us against our enemies, and delivers us from the outrage of men. We must therefore seek another meaning. The Hebrew word which we have rendered integrity might be referred to the body as well as the mind, thus: I shall continue sound, because thou wilt preserve and establish me. He seems, however, to extend the favor of God still farther; as if he had said, that he had been assisted not only once by his hand, but that, during the whole course of the period he had enjoyed prosperity, he had always been upheld in safety by the power of God. If any would rather understand by this term the piety and sincere disposition for which David was distinguished, — and this meaning would be very suitable, — it will not follow from this that David boasts of his past life, but only that he declares that, when brought to the test, or in the midst of the conflict, even although Satan and wicked men endeavored to shake his faith, he had not turned aside from the fear of God. By these words, then, he bears testimony to his patience, because, when sorely vexed and tormented, he had not forsaken the path of uprightness. If this meaning should be adopted, it must be observed, that this benefit, namely, that David continued invincible, and boldly sustained these assaults of temptation, is immediately after ascribed to God, and that for the future, David looked for preservation by no other means than by the sustaining power of God. If the language should be understood as referring to his external condition, this will be found to suit equally well the scope of the passage, and the meaning will be this, That God will never cease to manifest his favor, until he has preserved his servants in safety, even to the end. As to the form of expression, that God establishes them before his face, this is said of those whom he defends and preserves in such a manner, that he shows by evident tokens the paternal care which he exercises over them; as, on the other hand, when he seems to have forgotten his own people, he is said to hide his face from them.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) Thou upholdest.Here we seem to have the acknowledgment that the prayer just uttered is answered.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. And as for me Literally, And I. The “I” is emphatic, as in Psa 41:4. He contrasts God’s treatment towards him with that of his enemies, whom God had doomed to destruction.
Mine integrity As between him and his enemies David could plead his blamelessness, but as between his soul and God he confessed, as in Psa 41:4, his sin.
Settest me before thy face A mark of noble rank and royal favour. See Psa 34:16.
For ever To eternity, which only is the duration of this rule and dignity of David, realized in his illustrious seed, Messiah, who is blessed for evermore.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 41:12. And as for me, thou upholdest, &c. Accordingly, for my own part, because of my integrity, thou hast upheld me, and set me before thy face for ever. Mudge; who observes, that as the division of the Psalms into five books or portions is quite arbitrary, they seem to have ended them where they happened to find such a doxology as in the last verse; yet, as not only this but the three following verses end with the same doxology, I am rather inclined to the opinion of Bishop Hare and other learned commentators, who think that these doxologies were added to the end of each book by the person who collected and digested the Psalms.
REFLECTIONS.1st, The labour of love is never labour lost; so the Psalmist assures us.
1. He pronounces the man blessed who considereth the poor; either in general the poor in this world, compassionating their wants, sympathizing with them in their sorrows, and seeking by counsels, influence, and liberal distribution, to relieve the distresses of the necessitous; or it may refer to that poor man whom so few remember, Ecc 9:15 the lowly Jesus, exposed for our sakes to want, and having nowhere to lay his head: to consider his humiliation for us, is the way to true blessedness.
2. He shews wherein this blessedness consists. In trouble, God would deliver him, preserve him from his enemies, support him on the bed of languishing, and tenderly watch over him in his sickness. Note; (1.) Kindness to God’s poor and afflicted ones, is highly our interest as well as duty; none ever lost by lending thus to the Lord. (2.) God’s blessing is the comfort of every estate; it can make the bed of languishing cheerful, give rest in trouble, and make even grief to smile.
3. Having some good hope, through grace, that he could claim the character, he is emboldened in prayer to seek the promises. Yet, as a miserable sinner, in himself utterly undeserving, he pleads for mercy with God, and begs that his sickness may be healed, that worst and most dangerous disease, corruption, in his soul.
2nd, They who live in a wicked world, may expect to meet with much deceit, as David did, to the great discomfort of his soul.
1. They spoke against him with inveterate rancour, and wished that every evil might attend him; death seize his body, and blot out his name for ever. And thus did Christ’s enemies revile him with every opprobrious character, wish and contrive his death, and hope that then the memory of his miracles, and the doctrines of his gospel, would perish with him. But lo! their malice makes his memorial more glorious and abiding. Let not Christ’s servants count it strange, then, if the worst wishes and words attend them: their Lord hath suffered it before them.
2. If they came on pretence of paying him a friendly visit, their professions were hypocrisy, their designs malignant, to observe his words and behaviour, that they might report them to his disadvantage. The Scribes and Pharisees for this purpose attended the Saviour, to entangle him in his talk; and, while they pretended to admire him in his preaching and piety, sought to impeach him as a teacher of sedition. If we meet with the same deceitful men, and hear the most invidious remarks or misrepresentations made of us, let us remember that so was our Lord treated.
3. They flattered themselves that they should sooner or later prevail. In secret they whispered, plotted their wicked devices; and when an evil disease, some dangerous sickness, seized him, or some vile aspersion, which they had forged and propagated, cleaved to him, then they hoped he would never again recover his health or his character. Such whisperers contrived the Saviour’s death; with perjured evidence the sons of Belial swore against him; and having procured his condemnation and death, and sealed his sephulchre, they promised themselves he should never rise up again. How vain the hopes, as well as vile the efforts, of wicked men!
4. His bosom friend betrayed him, and sought to spurn him from his throne, in return for the most obliging kindness. Ingratitude is a sin almost as common as odious. We are assured, Joh 13:18 that David looked farther than his own case. Judas the traitor was his familiar friend, and, from the very table where Jesus fed him, went to the priests to betray him. Put not your trust in any child of man; friends may be faithless; the friend of sinners alone will never deceive or disappoint those who trust him.
5. He directs his prayer to God for mercy and help, that he may requite them, either do them good for their evil, or rather, as their king, punish them for their wickedness.In answer to the Redeemer’s prayer, he was raised from the dust of death, and with swift destruction recompensed his enemies into their own bosom. Neither Satan nor all the powers of darkness, nor the high-priest and all his wicked train, were permitted to triumph, when on the resurrection-day all their devices were confounded; and he, of whom they said, Persecute him, for there is none to deliver him, arose then most eminently, declared to be the Son of God with power. Note; The very trials that we are exposed to, serve to make the love of God to souls more evident and precious.
6. He expresses his confidence in God, and acknowledges that the work must be entirely God’s grace, both to uphold and reward him. The Son of David, in unspotted integrity, stood fast; and, after an obedience unto death, received the reward in glory, where now he sits at God’s right hand, enthroned for evermore. May we come in his good time to sit down by him! In order thereto, we must be sensible, [1.] That the work is entirely of grace. [2.] That, left to ourselves, we must inevitably fall.
7. He concludes with a thanksgiving for such a glorious hope; and well he deserves the everlasting praise who brings the faithful soul to everlasting blessedness. The whole Israel of God, the faithful of every age, in the view of this glorious work, cannot but echo back the sound, with hearts warm with gratitude, and bursting with gladness: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen!
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 41:12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
Ver. 12. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity ] Which earth and hell had conspired to rob me of, but in vain, through thy help. My shield is yet in safety. My faith faileth me not, nor yet mine innocence in regard of men, or the righteousness of my cause.
And settest me before thy face for ever
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Thy face. See note on Exo 34:20.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thou: Psa 25:21, Psa 94:18
settest: Psa 16:11, Psa 17:15, Psa 34:15, Psa 73:23, Psa 73:24, Job 36:7, Joh 17:24
Reciprocal: Gen 17:18 – before Deu 30:2 – with all thine heart 1Sa 25:32 – General Job 2:3 – holdeth Psa 4:1 – O Psa 7:8 – to mine Psa 37:17 – Lord Psa 61:7 – abide Psa 119:116 – Uphold Isa 41:10 – I will uphold
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
41:12 And as for me, thou upholdest me {h} in mine integrity, and settest me before thy {i} face for ever.
(h) Meaning, either in prosperity of life or in the true fear of God against all temptation.
(i) Showing me evident signs of your fatherly providence.