In The Word
Read: Psalms 41
The Psalmist in Sickness Complains of Enemies and False Friends.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.
41 Blessed is one who considers the helpless;
The Lord will save him on a day of trouble.
2 The Lord will protect him and keep him alive,
And he will be called blessed upon the earth;
And do not turn him over to the desire of his enemies.
3 The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed;
In his illness, You restore him to health.
4 As for me, I said, “Lord, be gracious to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
5 My enemies speak evil against me,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when he comes to see me, he speaks empty words;
His heart gathers wickedness to itself;
When he goes outside, he tells it.
7 All who hate me whisper together against me;
They plot my harm against me, saying,
8 “A wicked thing is poured out upon him,
So that when he lies down, he will not get up again.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.
10 But You, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up,
That I may repay them.
11 By this I know that You are pleased with me,
Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.
12 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
And You place me in Your presence forever.
13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
David wrote this psalm in his sickbed to give himself comfort in the Lord and remind himself of God’s promises for his life. He had faith that the Lord would heal him from his sickness no matter what his enemies thought or said of Him. David’s enemies would come to see him on his sickbed like people who cared but only so they could leave, talk falsely of him, and hope he wouldn’t make it.
There is nothing that David was holding on to more than the hope that Yahweh loved him and would heal his sickness. Psalm 41:11 says, “By these I know you are pleased with me, because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.” There is a powerful truth that David believes in and it builds his faith every day; that truth is the fact that God is pleased with him and that David’s enemies will have no triumph over him.
You need to believe in that too! Jesus fought the fight, defeated satan, and won the battle; so, as tough as life can be and as wicked as your enemies can be, you are victorious in all things. Psalm 41:12 says, “As for me, you uphold me in my integrity forever, and you set me in your presence forever.” Integrity will preserve you forever. It will keep you from falling off of the track, guide your life, and bring you closer to Yahweh.
What hard situation are you facing today? Remember to trust the Lord and remain a person of integrity.