The Relationship Lens

How We View Others (v. 1-3)

Hypocrisy

When we really consider what is being said, especially in the first two verses, what we find is that the one who considers the poor will be considered by God.

It points out the hypocrisy of pleading to God for mercy but being unwilling to show any to others.

Which reminds us of the parable of the unforgiving servant.

Matthew 18:23–30 ““Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.””

Matthew 5:7 ““Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

It is important to note that this is not a prescription of how to be saved but rather a prescription of how to live a blessed life.

Both David’s point in Psalm 41 and Jesus’ in the Sermon on the Mount was that if you want to live a blessed life, a happy life then you must be one that extends mercy to others. This shows us the necessity of showing mercy.

Necessity

Why does this matter so much to God?

There are huge portions of the OT law that discuss how the poor are to be treated in Israel.

This Proverb lays out the answer: Proverbs 14:31 “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”

Secondly, when your day of trouble arrives I guarantee you will be looking for mercy. As David describes when you are on your sickbed the Lord will sustain you.

There are examples of times in David’s life where he extended mercy even when the world would not. He showed mercy to the son of Saul, Mephibosheth.

Christ’s Example

How does this point us to Christ?

First, is how these verses parallel Christ’s own words in the Beatitudes.

Second, we must learn from Christ’s example of how to be merciful to others in big things and small things.

In our salvation Jesus has shown the greatest mercy of all.

However, throughout the life of Christ He showed mercy on a small scale. From providing wine at a wedding when they ran out to healing the sick Jesus was always eager to extend mercy.

Application: We must engage in the task of learning to view others as Christ views them.

How Others View Us (v. 4-9)

Lies

Specifically we are talking about how the world views us. David was specifically speaking of how his enemies viewed him.

They say evil things (malice)

When will this guy just finally die?

Empty words - falsehoods, deceit (that they spread abroad)

They whisper about me

They imagine the worst for me (how they can hurt me)

They say “a deadly thing is powered out on him” Like Job’s friends they say “he got what he deserved.”

“He will not rise again”

For David’s enemies they may have been right.

I imagine that this Psalm was written when David was old and nearing the end of his reign. This is what would lead his enemies to say “why won’t he just hurry up and die?” They though they could just wait him out because “he will not rise again.”

Betrayal

Multiple times in his life David was betrayed by those he trusted.

Every broken promise is a betrayal of sorts.

For David the betrayal of Absolom and Ahithophel come to mind.

As we are again reminded of Job his wife and friends come to mind.

However, did someone you know come to mind when the word betrayal was brought up?

Christ’s Example

The most obvious example is again a connection with the words of Jesus. When describing the betrayal of Judas Jesus quoted from v. 9

John 13:18 “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’”

Between the smaller betrayal of Peter and the larger betrayal of Judas Jesus knew betrayal.

The second example is the lies told of Christ leading up to His death.

Why did they have His trial at night?

Mark 14:56 “For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.”

Finally, we see that unlike David, Jesus did rise again. The enemies of Jesus tried to use His death as a means of overcoming Him, but clearly that didn’t work.

Application: We must learn to endure how others view us as Christ was viewed by the world.

How God Views Us (v. 10-12)

Gracious (v.10)

David wasn’t asking for something that was out of character for God to give.

David has acknowledged his sin. Psalm 41:4 “As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!””

David has acknowledged his enemies. Psalm 41:5 “My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?””

David also acknowledges that the cure for both is grace. Psalm 41:10 “But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!”

Delight (v. 11)

One way that David as the King of Israel recognized God’s delight in him was that the enemies of Israel would not triumph over him.

This came true for the most part. David died of old age as the King of Israel, not assassinated in his sleep or from a wound on the battlefield. God was consistent with Israel, when they walked with Him they were blessed. Or as this Psalm says when they had integrity God delighted in them.

Because of God’s grace and delight David looked forward to the eternal presence of God. (v. 12)

Christ’s Example

Christ, because of who He was, also enjoyed the delight of God. “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

Christ also after His suffering and death is now enjoying the eternal presence of God.

Application: We must learn to view ourselves the way that God views us in Christ.

He views you with grace and delight.

He views you no longer as His enemy but as His child.

Whatever you are wrestling with take some time everyday to remember how God sees you.

How We View God (v. 13)

Praise

Each of the five books of the Psalms ends with a doxology of praise.

Praise is primarily how we respond to our perception of God.

David responds with praise by saying “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.”

We understand what it means to be blessed by God. We saw that in Psalm 41:1 “Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;” But what does it mean to be a blessing to God or to declare a blessing to God?

It always ultimately means to praise Him.

For all its outcries of suffering the Psalter always returns to its central theme: praise.

Truth

The truth that comes to mind as David closes out this Psalm is God’s everlasting nature and being.

From everlasting to everlasting You are God.

It reminds us of His eternality. He always has been and always will be.

We find great comfort in this truth because our eternality is dependent on His.

Christ’s Example

Christ praised His Father.

Everything He did was to bring honor and glory to God.

Application: We must consistently reevaluate our view of God in light of biblical truth.

Every artificial view of God that you embrace stems from the lies of the world or the lies of your heart.

When you come before God in His word, first pray that would mould and shape your view of Him through His word.

Conclusion

We must engage in the task of learning to view others as Christ views them.

We must learn to endure how others view us as Christ was viewed by the world.

We must learn to view ourselves the way that God views us in Christ.

We must consistently reevaluate our view of God in light of biblical truth.