Psalm 41

Psalm 41 KJV (WS)

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. 5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? 6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. 7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. 8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 10 But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. 12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. 13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Introduction

This Psalm was mostly likely written as a result of David’s experience with Absalom.

There are threads that connect this Psalm to that period of David’s life, which we will see.

One thing that we know about the Psalms is that they were written to be used in public worship by the Jews.

Though intended for public use, this Psalm is very personal.

As you read through it, you can feel David’s emotions burning through the words.

He begins by talking to the listener about God. vss 1-3

David had a long-time relationship with the poor.

Throughout his life, he has sought to help the poor.

The Bible’s use of poor is different than ours.

Here, it means weakened one.

It is meant to refer to all forms of want and suffering.

It could also be translated wretched.

David sees more than just the individual who suffers from a lack of finances.

When he talks about “consider the poor” he means look for ways to assist them.

This is what David had always sought to do.

It’s how he gathered a following while on the run from Saul.

It’s how he responded to people like Mephibosheth.

Other than his theft from and murder of Uriah, David had proven to be a generous man.

Maybe David’s generosity and attempt to help others stemmed from a sense of commonality.

Maybe David had a heart for the poor, because he had been poor.

David had experienced what it was like to be the weakened one throughout his life.

He was the youngest of his father’s sons.

He was definitely the weak one (humanly speaking) when he stood before Goliath.

He lived as a fugitive from the king for years.

Never safe

Never able to let down his guard.

With this Psalm, an aged David agains find himself identifying with the poor as he lives as an exile from his kingdom.

David had always received help from others while he was poor.

The priest had helped him in his initial escape from Saul.

Abigail had fed David’s men.

Even the Philistines had given him shelter for a time.

As he ran from Absalom, a man named Barzillai had brought him and his men fruit and provisions.

When David considers his relationship to the poor an as the poor, he has to think of god.

What we see next explains how David could say, “blessed is he.”

Blessed can usually be understood as “happy is he.”

God’s relationship with those who care for the poor, explains how the charitable are happy.

He delivers them.

To show sympathy to the poor is to invite the promise of blessing into your life.

When the day of your trouble comes, and it will, you can count on God to undertake for you.

All that David says here blooms from experience.

God delivers the charitable in their own time of trouble.

He preserves them.

Times of trouble sometimes come with troublesome people.

We will see this explained more in depth in a moment.

God will not allow the will of our enemies to prosper.

His plan is greater.

He strengthens them.

One author calls this Psalm “the sick man’s cry”.

David indeed found himself suffering from either physical, psychological, or pneumatological sickness.

Even in sickness, David found reason to be happy in the care that God provided him.

Is it not a wonderful thing to realize the Lord, himself, is this involved in your care?

He is smoothing your pillow.

He is refreshing your covers.

Think of the Lord making your bed for you.

David now travels back in time and gives the listener a glimpse into what it sounded like for him to talk to God in his suffering. vss 4-12

First, and importantly, we see a confession of sin. vs 4

This section of the Psalm begins and ends with a plea for mercy.

You can see it again in vs 10.

David needed God to be merciful to him.

David was a man after God’s own heart.

But, he was not a perfect man.

When we think of the failures of David, one glaring mark sticks out the most.

Bathsheba.

David’s current situation could be traced back to his sin with Bathsheba.

He rightly makes no attempt to make himself out as to be an innocent lamb.

In reality, he had stolen another man’s lamb and then killed the man to cover it up.

David was a sinner like all the rest of us.

He knew he needed God to be merciful to him.

He knew he had transgressed God’s law.

That didn’t stop him from petitioning God for help.

What we see next is a rehearsal of a lament from the midst of trouble. vs 5-9

David’s enemies (plural) wish for evil to happen to him. vs 5

David becomes a type of the Lord, in this verse.

Jesus’ enemies were constantly conspiring against him.

They looked for a chance to be rid of him.

This is what David’s enemies are doing.

Jesus’ enemies were his countrymen.

David’s enemies were led by his son.

When they spoke evil against him, it means they speak with spite or malice towards him.

This isn’t something that happened overnight.

This is something that began small and was allowed to fester.

This is bitterness.

They can’t even talk about David in a civil manner.

David moves on to recount a singular enemy comes to feign concern for David. vs 6

This may very well been his own son.

Imagine David remembering all those times his son had come to see him, while simultaneously plotting to overthrow him.

It’s almost as though, his son’s visits were just information gathering.

He was anxious to lay something on him.

Absalom was just looking for an opportunity to accuse his father of something.

His heart gathereth = the activity of a person behind the scenes.

Gathering evidence and ammo to use against his father.

David found out too late that his enemies had been conspiring against him. vss 7-8

Commentators are split as to whether or not David was physically sick when Absalom cast him out of Jerusalem.

Not all sickness is physical.

David may have been battling mental or soul sickness.

Sickness is often wrongfully interpreted as God’s judgment.

This disease that is mentioned may not refer to sickness at all.

Disease is a thing of ruin or worthlessness.

David’s dwindling reputation or busyness may have been seen by Absalom and his allies as the source of David’s ruin.

Regardless, the sense of these two verses is that David’s enemies think they have him right where they want him.

David is betrayed by a friend. vs 9

You may think that the friend David is referring to is his son.

It’s probably not.

There was another character within David’s inner circle, whom David trusted above almost anyone else.

This man was named Ahithophel.

2 Samuel 16:23 “23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”

Do you know Ahithophel?

Well, he was Bathsheba’s grandfather.

He was David’s familiar friend.

This single word for Familiar friend means = man of peace.

David felt safe with Ahithophel.

When Absalom rebelled against his father, Ahithophel was by his side.

There are a few names that are synonymous with betrayal.

Benedict Arnold from our American history.

Judas.

This Psalm is connected to Judas because it is quoted by Jesus at the Last Supper.

John 13:18 “18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”

David is crying out to God over the betrayal of his son and his most trusted advisor.

This had been one of the lowest points of his life.

But as he looks back on what he went through, he is reminded of what got him through it.

David had to learn to rest in God. vss 10-12

So many friends had betrayed him.

He was weak and poor.

He was not abandoned by God.

David went to God with requests for help. vs 10

He asks for mercy, again.

He had betrayed Uriah and Bathsheba.

He had irrevocably harmed their family.

Awareness of our sins don’t mean we can’t ask for mercy, actually it’s the opposite.

He asks for strength.

David asks God to restore him.

To allow him to return to the position he had previously held.

He asks for a chance at bringing justice.

To requite means to carry out justice.

Though David admits to his need for mercy, it doesn’t change the fact that what Absalom and Ahithophel have done is unlawful.

If David is allowed to return as king, he will use his authority to enact justice.

He has confidence in the Lord. vs 11

David possesses God’s favor.

Why?

Because of his past consideration for the poor.

Everything that David had learned about god in vss 1-3 convinced him that God’s favor would be on him.

He was proven right.

David possesses God’s protection.

Remember, God preserves those that consider the poor.

David’s enemies did like that song from the 80’s, they hit him with their best shot, and yet he stood still.

David was put through the ringer in all aspects during the rebellion of Absalom, yet through it all his faith was realized. vs 12

He was upheld by God.

He was held close by God.

This leads to the close of the Psalm and the 1st book. vs 13

This Doxology is a fitting end to book 1 of 5 in the Psalms.

It is unknown whether this verse belongs to the Psalm or is a epilogue statement similar to the headings that are a part of the actual Hebrew texts.

Regardless it serves well as both.

Glory to God!

Amen and amen = yes, and yes again.

What do we take from this Psalm?

If you are like David during his good years, consider the poor.

Maybe you are in a season of plenty.

Find someone that you can be a blessing to.

If you are like David during his poor years, trust God.

Trust that he will deliver, protect, and strengthen you.

You may feel like your enemies are surrounding you.

You can rest in God.

If you are like David during his Bathsheba years, pray for mercy.

I don’t mean that in a sarcastic over the top way.

I mean that genuinely.

Our God is a merciful God.