Psalm 41:12

And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) Thou upholdest.—Here we seem to have the acknowledgment that the prayer just uttered is answered.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

41:5-13 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 Psalm 7:8; Psalm 25:21; Psalm 26:1, Psalm 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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

12. settest … before thy face—under thy watch and care, as God before man's face (Ps 16:8) is an object of trust and love.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

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.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire 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, 1 Timothy 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.

Geneva Study Bible

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.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. Cp. Psalm 26:11; Psalm 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 Psalm 41:4. Integrity (Psalm 7:8; Psalm 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. Psalm 11:7 (note); Psalm 16:11; Psalm 17:15; Psalm 61:7; and the fundamental promise in 2 Samuel 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 Revelation 22:4.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity (comp. Psalm 26:1, and the comment ad loc.). And settest me before thy face for ever. So that there falls upon me the light of thy countenance (comp. Psalm 4:6). The expression, "for ever," is remarkable in this connection, and may be fairly taken as indicating a hope of immortality (comp. Psalm 16:11; Psalm 17:15; Psalm 23:6; Psalm 30:12). Psalm 41:12

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

(Heb.: 41:11-13) Having now described their behaviour towards him, sick in soul and body as he is, so devoid of affection, yea, so malignantly hostile and so totally contrary to the will and promise of God, David prays that God would raise him up, for he is now lying low, sick in soul and in body. The prayer is followed, as in Psalm 39:14 and many other passages, by the future with ah: that I may be able to requite them, or: then will I requite them. What is meant is the requiting which it was David's duty as a duly constituted king to exercise, and which he did really execute by the power of God, when he subdued the rebellion of Absalom and maintained his ground in opposition to faithlessness and meanness. Instead of בּזאת אדע (Genesis 42:33, cf. Genesis 15:8, Exodus 7:17; Numbers 16:28; Joshua 3:10) the expression is בּזאת ידעתּי in the sense of (ex hoc) cognoverim. On חפצתּ בּי cf. Psalm 18:20; Psalm 22:9; Psalm 35:27. By the second כּי, the בּזאת, which points forwards, is explained. The adversatively accented subject ואני stands first in Psalm 41:13 as a nom. absol., just as in Psalm 35:13. Psalm 41:13 states, retrospectively from the standpoint of fulfilment, what will then be made manifest and assure him of the divine good pleasure, viz., Jahve upholds him (תּמך as in Psalm 63:9), and firmly sets him as His chosen one before Him (cf. Psalm 39:6) in accordance with the Messianic promise in 2 Samuel 7:16, which speaks of an unlimited future.