Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Psalms 41:4
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
I said, Lord, be merciful unto me, etc.] (See Gill on “<194011>Psalm 40:11”); heal my soul; not that it was diseased with sin in such sense as the souls of other men are; but it is to be understood as a petition for comfort while bearing the sins of others, and which Christ as man stood in need of when in the garden and on the cross; so healing signifies comfort in trouble, as in (<235718>Isaiah 57:18 <390402>Malachi 4:2); for I have sinned against thee; or “unto thee”, or “before thee”, as the Targum; not that any sin was committed by him in his own person, but he having all the sins of his people on him, which he calls his own, (<194012>Psalm 40:12); he was treated as a sinner, and as guilty before God, (<235312>Isaiah 53:12); and so the words may be read, “for I am a sinner unto thee” f574; I am counted as one by thee, having the sins of my people imputed to me; and am bound unto thee, or under obligation to bear the punishment of sin; or thus, “for I have made an offering for sin unto thee” f575, so the word is used, (<030626>Leviticus 6:26 9:15); and so it might be rendered in (<030507>Leviticus 5:7,11); and perhaps may be better rendered so in (<030403>Leviticus 4:3); and be understood, not of the sin of the anointed priest, but of his offering a sacrifice for the soul that sinned through ignorance, (<194102>Psalm 41:2), which offering is directed to: and then the sense here is, heal me, acquit me, discharge me, and deliver me out of this poor and low estate in which I am; for I have made my soul an offering for sin, and thereby have made atonement for all the sins of my people laid upon me; and accordingly he was acquitted and justified, (<540316>1 Timothy 3:16).
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