The Blessed Life Cares for Others
Notes
Transcript
11/08/20
Dominant Thought: God lifts His people out of trouble.
Objectives:
I want my listeners to find one way to help someone who is weak this week.
I want my listeners to pray with David, “O Lord, be gracious to me.”
I want my listeners to understand that God cares for us in the day of trouble.
It’s a bad day when…My dad had one of those bad days. It was July 6, 1982. I was almost five years old. My dad was a young husband and father of two small children. He worked for Dubuque Packing, a beef processing plant. One day at work, he was kicked by a cow and fractured his wrist. That would classify in the bad day column. While dad was off work, he turned on the news to find out that there was a takeover at his work place, picket lines and the state police were called. He found out that he had lost his job by watching the news. He would be out of work for about two years during one of the harshest winters on record. That would fit into the bad day category two. That night at supper, I still remember eating goulash for supper. It was a warm summer evening, then a thunderstorm came through and the phone rang. My dad’s younger brother who was 20 years old had drowned.
Today’s message is simple, but the difficulty is that its truth is born out of bad days. The lesson for today, “God lifts His people out of trouble.” The question is, how does God do it and and does He still care for his people today. Psalm 41 draws the first book of Psalms to a close with another blessing. The blessing from God to help us in days of trouble. We all have, are, and will experience days of trouble. Psalm 41 will help us see how God cares for His people in days of trouble.
Even on bad days, God still cares. (Psalm 41.1-3)
Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
The first word in this psalm is the same that we saw for the whole collection of Psalms in Psalm 1.1. It is the word, “blessed.” Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about the blessed life. In Psalms, we find 26 blessings from God to His people. Blessing is a good thing. It describes the good life. Today’s blessing comes for those who consider or pay close attention to the poor. A better understanding of this word could be, “weak.” It is used to describe a thread hanging from a loom (Isaiah 38.12). I think of the last kid chosen for the kickball game at recess. Good comes to those who look out for those who are picked last.
The psalm declares the blessings from God for those who take note of the weak, those on the outside looking in. So, your assignment is to pay attention to those who could use some help. Maybe it is sharing a piece of fruit to someone begging on a street corner. Maybe it is offering to give someone a ride. Maybe you could pick up groceries for that person who is quarantined or shut-in. Take your eyes off yourself and look around for someone to help in the name of Jesus.
Psalm 41.1-3 lists several descriptions of what this blessed life looks like. “In the day of trouble,” could also be said, “In the day of bad” or “on bad days,” God delivers him. The Lord protects him and keeps him alive. In verse two, the blessing is repeated, “he is called blessed in the land.” The blessings continue: you do not give him up to the will of his enemies (We’ll see that more in verses 4-10), The Lord sustains him on his sickbed and restores him to full health.
Even on bad days, God still cares. The image of sustaining him on his sickbed could mean, “you turn over his whole bed in his illness” (Mark Futato, The Book of Psalms). It could be the picture of when you finally turn the corner from sickness to health, and mom comes in and takes the sheets off the bed, opens the blinds, airs out the room, sprays the lysol, and puts clean sheets on the bed.
Psalm 41 could be a good Psalm for this season of sickness and virus. Remember that true healing doesn’t come in the form of a vaccine, but in the blessings of God.
Even though God cares, bad days still come. (Psalm 41.4-10)
As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!”
My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?”
And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.
They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.”
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!
In this section, verses 4 and 10 form a bookend of prayer in the midst of bad days. The prayer David prays, “O Lord, be gracious to me.” Lord, show me your favor. In the New Testament, you find the root of grace. It is a gift from God. Could I encourage you to use these words in your prayers? Lord, be gracious to me. What we are saying is, “I cannot do this on my own power. I need your gifts to lead me and heal me and strengthen me.”
David confess that he is not perfect. In Psalm 41.4, he declares, “I have sinned against you.” In a couple of weeks, we will unpack this theme of confession more fully. But let me tell you that confession is good medicine for the soul.
In verse 5, David reflects on his enemies in his prayer.
There are a couple of people that could be conspiring against David as David writes this Psalm. The conspiracy takes place in 2 Samuel 14 and following. David’s son Absalom, was highly praised for his handsome appearance. “From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him” (2 Samuel 14.25). Absalom and David did not have a healthy relationship, and yet they were family. For two years, David wouldn’t allow Absalom to see him. You can read the back story in 2 Samuel 13.
In 2 Samuel 15, Absalom begins an active conspiracy against his father, David. Absalom got up early and went down by the city gate and met with people who had complaints that they were bringing to the king. Absalom would give them attention, listen to their complaint. He would say to them, “Look, your claims are valid and proper..If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see they receive justice” (2 Samuel 15.3-4). The result of this repeated behavior? Absalom “stole the hearts of the people of Israel” (2 Samuel 15.6).
After four years, Absalom sent messengers throughout Israel and proclaimed himself as king instead of his father King David. Even one of David’s closest advisors, the priest, Ahithophel joined in the conspiracy. Ahithophel counseled Absalom with these words from 2 Samuel 17.1-4
Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king,
and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.”
And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
So, these enemies that David is writing about in Psalm 41 could be his own son, Absalom and his trusted advisor, Ahithophel. David may be reflecting on this experience in another psalm in Psalm 55.12-14.
For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.
Families have been betrayed by one another when a child steals to get money for the next high or a husband who steps out on his family. How is it that those who sit at the same table can turn against one another so quickly? David states in Psalm 41.9, “Even my close friend whom I trust, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”
Jesus knew what it is like to have someone turn against him. In John 13, Jesus gathered with his closest friends, the twelve disciples to celebrate the Passover meal. Many times, we call it the last supper. During the meal, Jesus gets up and washes his disciples’ feet. Initially, Peter refuses to let Jesus wash his feet, but then Jesus convinces Peter. Then, Peter says, “don’t just wash my feet, but my hands and my head as well” (John 13.9). Jesus replied, Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you” (John 13.10). John then fills us in on this comment of Jesus, “For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean” (John 13.11).
Once Jesus finished the footwashing, He explained to them what just happened. He told them, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…No servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13.15-17).
Doesn’t that sound like Psalm 41, “Blessed is the one who considers the poor.” Blessings come when we care for others. Then Jesus takes it a step further in John 13.18.
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
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.’
This is one of two times in the gospels that Jesus says, “Scripture will be fulfilled.” Jesus quotes Psalm 41.9 in the upper room with his disciples after the footwashing at the last supper. The quotation finds fulfillment in the person of Judas, the one who would betray Jesus.
My friends, David was betrayed by his son Absalom and his priestly friend. The Lord Jesus was betrayed by one of the twelve disciples. He can identify with your pain. And He can lift you up out of that pain.
Even on bad days, God still wins. (Psalm 41.11-13)
By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
What is beautiful about these bad days psalms or psalms of lament is that most of them end on a positive note. Psalm 41 is a good example that David’s prayer has been answered. He declares God’s love for him. He declares victory over his enemy. He declares his integrity and the gift of God’s face forever. For us, we long for the new heaven and the new earth when we will be with the Lord face to face. Until that day, we still live with God’s presence through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 41.13, concludes book one of the Psalms. The Psalms are arranged in 5 books that may mirror the 5 books of the law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Each of these five books in Psalms closes with a similar note of praise. This note of praise is a blessing to the Lord who loves His people. The God of Israel, who lives forever and ever. Amen and Amen. So be it. So be it.
The good news for those bad days is that God is still with us. And those bad days can turn into good ones in the blink of an eye. Those were hard days for my parents. Dad was out of work for almost two years. Mom and Dad kept praying. Dad buried his brother. His arm healed and he did odd jobs to keep food on the table. Then, in the course of a day, my dad had three phone calls with three job offers. I’m sure my dad couldn’t quote Psalm 41.13 from memory, but I’m sure he would have echoed David’s praise, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
Communion Preparation:
As we turn our attention, to the Lord’s table, I want to circle back around to Psalm 41.9.
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
At the last supper, Jesus stated, “I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture” (John 13.18). Even Judas was at the last supper. This week, I was visiting with my friend, Wayne Shaw about this verse. He pointed out that in that moment, Jesus was offering Judas another chance to make the right choice. This meal is open to believers in the Lord, those who have sinned and betrayed him. Jesus will raise us up with Him in grace and forgiveness. In this meal, Jesus offers us the chance to renew our relationship with Him.
Let’s pray. O Lord, be gracious to us and heal us for we have sinned against you. Thank you for giving your life over to forgive those who betray you. Lord, be gracious to us and raise us up in new life. Amen and Amen.
5 Day Devotional Guide on Psalm 41
Dominant Thought: God lifts His people out of trouble.
You may want to refer to the sermon notes for further discussion. Take a moment to read the assigned Scripture and then reflect or discuss the questions. Customize this outline to your situation. Here are some questions to ask from the Discovery Bible Method:
What are you thankful for today or this week?
What challenges are you facing?
Have 2 or 3 people read the scripture out loud.
Can you summarize this passage in your own words?
What did you discover about God from this passage?
What have you learned about people from this passage?
How are you going to obey this passage? (What is your “I will” statement?)
With whom are you going to share what you have learned?
Based on this passage, what can we pray about?
Day 1: Psalm 41.1-3
Day 2: Psalm 41.4-10
Day 3: John 13.18-30
Day 4: Psalm 41.11-12
Day 5: Psalm 41.13