Psalm 41 · a question people ask
"My own familiar friend, in whom I trusted" (41:9). Who was he?
The psalm doesn't say. Its title is "For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David." (41:1), and unlike some titles (Psalm 3's is "A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son", Psalm 3:1) it names no occasion. The friend has no name anywhere in the psalm: he is "my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me" (41:9). Another psalm speaks of a companion who turned: "But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend" (Psalm 55:13); there familiar friend is a different Hebrew word. In the New Testament, Jesus gives the second half of 41:9 at supper (John 13:18), and then says, "one of you will betray me" (John 13:21). These notes don't name the psalm's friend, or tie him to anyone the Bible doesn't.
The verses
“For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Blessed is he who considers the poor. The LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.”
“Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.”
“A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me.”
“For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him. But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend. We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.”