John Calvin Commentary Psalms 41:12

"And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, And settest me before thy face for ever." — Psalms 41:12 (ASV)

And as for me, thou wilt uphold me in my integrity. Some explain this clause as follows: that because David pursued uprightness, God had extended His hand to him. But this interpretation does not align well with a preceding sentence, in which he acknowledged that he had been justly punished by God.

The calamity that had befallen him exposed him to the insult and derision of his enemies; but it is not likely that they were its cause. Therefore, it would have been out of place to have brought forward his integrity for this purpose, because the Lord is said to regard our integrity when He defends us against our enemies and delivers us from the outrage of men.

We must therefore seek another meaning. The Hebrew word that we have translated as integrity could refer to the body as well as the mind, as follows: "I will continue sound, because you will preserve and establish me." He seems, however, to extend God's favor even further, as if he had said that he had been assisted not only once by His hand, but that during the entire period he had enjoyed prosperity, he had always been upheld in safety by God's power.

If anyone would prefer to understand this term as the piety and sincere disposition for which David was distinguished — and this meaning would be very suitable — it will not follow from this that David boasts of his past life. Instead, he only declares that when brought to the test, or in the midst of conflict, even though Satan and wicked men endeavored to shake his faith, he had not turned aside from the fear of God.

By these words, then, he testifies to his patience, because when greatly distressed and tormented, he had not forsaken the path of uprightness. If this meaning is adopted, it must be observed that this benefit, namely, that David continued invincible and boldly sustained these assaults of temptation, is immediately afterward ascribed to God. Furthermore, for the future, David looked for preservation by no other means than by God's sustaining power.

If the language is understood as referring to his external condition, this will be found to suit the scope of the passage equally well. The meaning will be this: that God will never cease to show His favor until He has preserved His servants in safety, even to the end.

Regarding the form of expression, that God establishes them before His face, this is said of those whom He defends and preserves in such a manner that He shows by clear signs the paternal care He exercises over them. Conversely, when He seems to have forgotten His own people, He is said to hide His face from them.