Psalm 41
Praise be to the God who Blesses
This is a big day. In our weekly devotions through the Old Testament book of Psalms, we have reached the end of Book 1.
And as with the close of each book, it is climaxes in praise for our Sovereign Lord (72.18-19; 89.52; 106.48; 150.1-6). For even in the midst of persecution and affliction or the mist of treachery, as in this Psalm, our rock-solid confidence is in the God who blesses the downtrodden and suffering, lifting us up into his presence.
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.
2 The LORD protects and preserves them –
they are counted among the blessed in the land –
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
3 The LORD sustains them on their sick-bed
and restores them from their bed of illness.4 I said, ‘Have mercy on me, LORD;
heal me, for I have sinned against you.’
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
‘When will he die and his name perish?’
6 When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
then he goes out and spreads it around.7 All my enemies whisper together against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 ‘A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up from the place where he lies.’
9 Even my close friend,
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned against me.10 But may you have mercy on me, LORD;
raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 Because of my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence for ever.13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.
Right in the heart of this Psalm, vv5-9, we hear the King recounting how he has been betrayed.
Nothing quite so stings as loyalty being broken. When someone in your family breaks a promise or a friend broadcasts a secret you shared with them in private. This is where we find the King. He has been stabbed in the back by someone who was meant to protect him.
At first when he speaks of enemies, it seems like he is referring to those outside the walls of his Kingdom. They are those who whisper in the dark places, plotting and pitching for his downfall. Yet in v6, we see they are those who put on a mask, feigning friendship and faithfulness to the King, pretending concern about the King’s troubles yet using the information gathered to sow discontent and malcontent.
And this treachery has seeped all the way into the inner circle of the King. Someone who the King had embraced and welcomed in. Someone whom David had broken bread with had sought his downfall.
Does this story sound familiar? Do you hear the echoes of another King in this? Jesus quoted the words of this very Psalm when predicting the betrayal of Judas (John 13.18). Jesus broke bread in the most intimate setting with his disciples. On the night before his death. His death brought about when Judas took a mere thirty pieces of silver for the blood whose price cannot be equalled.
And so this is a Psalm which foreshadowed Christ’s death.
But it is also a Psalm which foreshadows Christ’s and our resurrection.
For Jesus was the one who came to seek and save the lost. He sought out the weak and wounded. He healed the sick and suffering. He embraced the forgotten and persecuted. They are blessed because Christ says they are with him.
And we are raised with him into new life, into the very presence of God (Ephesians 2.4-10). For God heard the prayers of his only beloved Son and raised him up. Not just from his suffering and pain. But from death itself. And all who are united to him by faith are raised with. The enemy is defeated and crushed under the feet of the true King.
And therefore we praise God from everlasting to everlasting because we have been give eternal life.
Isn’t that worthy of two Amens!
Glory be to God the Father, who is worthy of praise from everlasting to everlasting.
Glory be to God the Son, who was betrayed by one of his own people and raised by his own Father.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who protects and preserves us as we walk in step with him.
Ever three and ever One.