◄ Psalm 41:11 ►
By this I know that You delight in me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
Study Bible
By this I know
The phrase "By this I know" signifies a deep, personal assurance and understanding. In the Hebrew text, the word for "know" is "yada," which implies an intimate, experiential knowledge rather than mere intellectual awareness. This suggests that the psalmist, traditionally understood to be David, has a profound, personal relationship with God. This knowledge is not abstract but is rooted in lived experience and divine revelation. It reflects a confidence that comes from witnessing God's faithfulness in past circumstances, reinforcing the believer's trust in God's ongoing presence and support.

that You delight in me
The concept of God delighting in His people is a powerful testament to His love and favor. The Hebrew word for "delight" is "chaphets," which conveys a sense of pleasure and desire. This is not a passive or indifferent affection but an active, joyful engagement with the individual. In the context of the psalm, it underscores the covenant relationship between God and His people, where God takes pleasure in their faithfulness and righteousness. This delight is a source of comfort and encouragement, affirming the believer's worth and significance in God's eyes.

for my enemy does not triumph over me
The phrase "for my enemy does not triumph over me" speaks to the protection and victory that God provides. The Hebrew word for "triumph" is "tsalach," which means to succeed or prevail. In the historical context of David's life, he faced numerous adversaries and challenges, yet he consistently experienced God's deliverance. This victory is not merely a personal success but a manifestation of God's justice and power. It serves as evidence of God's favor and a reminder of His sovereignty over all circumstances. For believers, this assurance of victory over enemies—whether physical, spiritual, or emotional—reinforces the promise of God's ultimate triumph over evil and His commitment to His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of the psalm, King David, is expressing his confidence in God's favor and protection against his enemies.

2. God
The central figure in whom David places his trust, recognizing His delight and protection.

3. Enemies
Those who oppose David, representing any adversarial forces against the believer.

4. Israel
The nation over which David ruled, often facing external threats and internal challenges.

5. The Psalmist's Experience
Reflects a personal testimony of God's deliverance and favor.
Teaching Points
God's Delight in Us
Recognize that God's delight is not based on our circumstances but on His covenant love and faithfulness.

Victory Over Enemies
Understand that true victory is not always visible in immediate circumstances but is assured in God's ultimate plan.

Confidence in God's Protection
Develop a deep trust in God's protection, knowing that He is sovereign over all adversities.

Personal Testimony of Deliverance
Share personal experiences of God's deliverance as a testimony to His faithfulness and power.

Living in God's Favor
Live with the assurance of God's favor, which empowers us to face challenges with courage and hope.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's delight in us change our perspective on facing adversities?

2. In what ways can we see God's protection in our lives, even when circumstances seem unfavorable?

3. How can David's confidence in God's deliverance inspire us in our personal struggles?

4. What are some practical ways to remind ourselves of God's favor and protection daily?

5. How can we use our experiences of God's deliverance to encourage others in their faith journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 23
This psalm also speaks of God's protection and presence, emphasizing His guidance and provision even in the presence of enemies.

Romans 8:31
Paul echoes the sentiment that if God is for us, no one can be against us, reinforcing the idea of divine favor and protection.

1 Samuel 18-19
The account of David's life, particularly his conflicts with Saul, provides a backdrop for understanding his reliance on God's deliverance.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Paul's experience of God's strength in weakness parallels David's acknowledgment of God's triumph over his enemies.
Sermons
A Despiser of the Poor ReprovedPsalm 41:1-13
BenevolenceJoseph Entwistle.Psalm 41:1-13
Considering the PoorM. F. Sadler, M. APsalm 41:1-13
Considering the PoorJ. Parker.Psalm 41:1-13
God's PoorW. Forsyth Psalm 41:1-13
On Christian Care for the PoorJ. Baldwin Brown, B. A.Psalm 41:1-13
Practical Sympathy: Pity Shown More by Deeds than WordsPsalm 41:1-13
The Aggravation and Consolation of Bodily AfflictionC. Short Psalm 41:1-13
The Blessedness of Considering the Case of the PoorT. Chalmers, D. D.Psalm 41:1-13
The Blessedness of the BenevolentPsalm 41:1-13
The Duty of Considering the PoorG. Horns.Psalm 41:1-13
The Psalmist's AfflictionA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 41:1-13
The Right and Wrong Treatment of the AfflictedHomilistPsalm 41:1-13
The Sick and Needy (For Hospital SundayC. Voysey.Psalm 41:1-13
He Prays Against His EnemiesC. Clemance Psalm 41:10-12
InfluenceW. Forsyth Psalm 41:10-12
Present Favour and Boundless HopeA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 41:11-13
People
David, Korah, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Delight, Delighted, Delightest, Doesn't, Enemy, Favorest, Favourest, Hast, Hater, Overcome, Pleased, Pleasure, Shout, Shouteth, Triumph, Triumphed
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 41:10

     6688   mercy, demonstration of God's

Library
Christ Teaching Liberality
If we should attempt to mention all the parables which Jesus spoke, and the miracles which he performed, and the many other lessons which he taught, it would make a long list. As we have done before we can only take one or two specimens of these general lessons which Jesus taught. We have one of these in the title to our present chapter, which is--Christ Teaching Liberality. This was a very important lesson for Jesus to teach. One of the sad effects of sin upon our nature is to make it selfish, …
Richard Newton—The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young

Of visions. The Graces Our Lord Bestowed on the Saint. The Answers Our Lord Gave Her for those who Tried Her.
1. I have wandered far from the subject; for I undertook to give reasons why the vision was no work of the imagination. For how can we, by any efforts of ours, picture to ourselves the Humanity of Christ, and imagine His great beauty? No little time is necessary, if our conception is in any way to resemble it. Certainly, the imagination may be able to picture it, and a person may for a time contemplate that picture,--the form and the brightness of it,--and gradually make it more perfect, and so …
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus

Question of the Contemplative Life
I. Is the Contemplative Life wholly confined to the Intellect, or does the Will enter into it? S. Thomas, On the Beatific Vision, I., xii. 7 ad 3m II. Do the Moral Virtues pertain to the Contemplative Life? S. Augustine, Of the City of God, xix. 19 III. Does the Contemplative Life comprise many Acts? S. Augustine, Of the Perfection of Human Righteousness, viii. 18 " Ep., cxxx. ad probam IV. Does the Contemplative Life consist solely in the Contemplation of God, or in the Consideration …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

The Beatific vision. (Continued. )
In the Beatific Vision our intellect is glorified, and our thirst for knowledge completely satisfied. Man was created with a thirst for knowledge which can never be satiated in this world. Sin, which greatly weakened and darkened his mental faculties, has not taken away his desire and love for knowledge. And the knowledge which he acquired by eating the forbidden fruit, rather increased than satisfied his thirst. But all his efforts to reach the perfection of knowledge, even in the natural order, …
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven

The Difference Between Union and Rapture. What Rapture Is. The Blessing it is to the Soul. The Effects of It.
1. I wish I could explain, with the help of God, wherein union differs from rapture, or from transport, or from flight of the spirit, as they speak, or from a trance, which are all one. [1] I mean, that all these are only different names for that one and the same thing, which is also called ecstasy. [2] It is more excellent than union, the fruits of it are much greater, and its other operations more manifold; for union is uniform in the beginning, the middle, and the end, and is so also interiorly. …
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus

Perseverance of Saints.
FURTHER OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. 4. A fourth objection to this doctrine is, that if, by the perseverance of the saints is intended, that they live anything like lives of habitual obedience to God, then facts are against it. To this objection I reply: that by the perseverance of the saints, as I use these terms, is intended that, subsequently to their regeneration, holiness is the rule of their lives, and sin only the exception. But it is said, that facts contradict this. (1.) The case of king Saul is …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

The Paschal Meal. Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet.
(Thursday Evening of the Beginning of Friday.) ^D John XIII. 1-20. ^d 1 Now before the feast of the passover, Jesus knowing that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto his Father, having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them unto the end. [Since the second century a great dispute has been carried on as to the apparent discrepancy between John and the synoptists in their statements concerning the passover. The synoptists, as we have seen in the previous section, …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

All we Therefore, who Believe in the Living and True God...
18. All we therefore, who believe in the Living and True God, Whose Nature, being in the highest sense good and incapable of change, neither doth any evil, nor suffers any evil, from Whom is every good, even that which admits of decrease, and Who admits not at all of decrease in His own Good, Which is Himself, when we hear the Apostle saying, "Walk in the Spirit, and perform ye not the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: For these are opposed …
St. Augustine—On Continence

A Discourse of Mercifulness
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 These verses, like the stairs of Solomon's temple, cause our ascent to the holy of holies. We are now mounting up a step higher. Blessed are the merciful . . '. There was never more need to preach of mercifulness than in these unmerciful times wherein we live. It is reported in the life of Chrysostom that he preached much on this subject of mercifulness, and for his much pressing Christians to mercy, he was called of many, the alms-preacher, …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Question Lxxxii of Devotion
I. Is Devotion a Special Kind of Act? Cardinal Cajetan, On the Meaning of the Term "Devotion" S. Augustine, Confessions, XIII. viii. 2 II. Is Devotion an Act of the Virtue of Religion? III. Is Contemplation, that is Meditation, the Cause of Devotion? Cardinal Cajetan, On the Causes of Devotion " " On the Devotion of Women IV. Is Joy an Effect of Devotion? Cardinal Cajetan, On Melancholy S. Augustine, Confessions, II. x. I Is Devotion a Special Kind of Act? It is by our acts that we merit. But …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

The Lord's Prayer.
(Jerusalem. Thursday Night.) ^D John XVII. ^d 1 These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven [the action marked the turning of his thoughts from the disciples to the Father], he said, Father, the hour is come [see pp. 116, 440]; glorify thy Son, that the son may glorify thee: 2 even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life. [The Son here prays for his glorification, viz.: resurrection, ascension, coronation, etc., …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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