Psalms 41
Background story to this Psalm:
2 Samuel 11 - Ahithophel was once David’s friend.
2 Samuel 23:11 - Ahithophel is Bathsheba’s grandfather. Bathsheba is the woman that David committed adultery with and had her husband, Uriah, killed.
Psalm 41:9 - David admits that he trusted Ahithophel.
Psalm 55:12 - David says he considered Ahithophel to be a trusted guide and confidant.
2 Samuel 15:10, 31 - Absalom, David’s son, knew that Ahithophel was bitter toward David. Absalom convinces Ahithophel to be on his side, against his father. David was then told that Ahithophel had turned to the other side, against him.
This could be the point where Psalm 41 was written.
Ahithophel had once trusted David, too, as his friend. Ahithophel’s bitterness started with disappointments, and it eventually led to his own death, as he hung himself.
God did not honor Ahithophel’s bitterness and bless him.
What should Ahithophel done with his bitterness? Instead of having Absalom find out about his ill-feelings toward David, Ahithophel should have gone directly to David and discussed it.
How do friends become enemies? Friends become enemies when feelings arent’t dealt wth and discussed between the two people that are involved. Unfortunately, the feelings are discussed with others that are not involved and those feelings grow and fester. And at times, like with David, he didn’t know Ahithophel’s feelings toward him, until he was told that Ahithophel had joined up with Absalom to fight against him.
Psalm 41 can be divided into three sections.
vs. 1-4 - David is depressed and asks God to heal his soul. Not his body, but his soul, his spirit.
vs. 5-9 - David recalls the experiences with enemies that wanted him dead, and also experiences with people that he thought was his friend, like Ahithophel.
vs. 10-12 - David praises God for His mercy, when other people did not show him mercy and love.
