1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble. 2The LORD will protect and preserve him; He will bless him in the land and refuse to surrender him to the will of his foes. 3The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness. 4I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.” 5My enemies say with malice: “When will he die and be forgotten?” 6My visitor speaks falsehood; he gathers slander in his heart; he goes out and spreads it abroad. 7All who hate me whisper against me; they imagine the worst for me: 8“A vile disease has been poured into him; he will never get up from where he lies!” 9Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. 10But You, O LORD, be gracious to me and raise me up, that I may repay them. 11By this I know that You delight in me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. 12In my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever. 13Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
God's care for his people. (1-4) The treachery of David's enemies. (5-13) 1-4 The people of God are not free from poverty, sickness, or outward affliction, but the Lord will consider their case, and send due supplies. From his Lord's example the believer learns to consider his poor and afflicted brethren. This branch of godliness is usually recompensed with temporal blessings. But nothing is so distressing to the contrite believer, as a fear or sense of the Divine displeasure, or of sin in his heart. Sin is the sickness of the soul; pardoning mercy heals it, renewing grace heals it, and for this spiritual healing we should be more earnest than for bodily health. 5-13 We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and that there is scarcely any true friendship to be found among men; but the former days were no better. One particularly, in whom David had reposed great confidence, took part with his enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive evil from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus broken our words toward God? We eat of his bread daily, yet lift up the heel against him. But though we may not take pleasure in the fall of our enemies, we may take pleasure in the making vain their designs. When we can discern the Lord's favour in any mercy, personal or public, that doubles it. If the grace of God did not take constant care of us, we should not be upheld. But let us, while on earth, give heartfelt assent to those praises which the redeemed on earth and in heaven render to their God and Saviour.