“Be gracious to me!”
What is the title
of Psalm 41? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
Read Psalm 41:1-3
1 Blessed
is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 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.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
2 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.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
Who is the “poor”?
Delivered, Protected, alive, blessed, sustained, full health
Who is “happy” or "blessed"?
The one who THINKS on this
Read Psalm 41:4
4
As
for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned
against you!”
What does the psalmist say to YHWH?
I AM POOR. I have sinned against you.
Read Psalm 41:5-7
5 My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and
his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.
What do his enemies do?
Empty words. Whisper about me. Imagine the worst. They are no help, they don't understand.
Read Psalm 40:8-9
8
They
say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from
where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
What do his friends do?
Against me, My close Friend!! lift a heel = disrespected NO HELP even here.
Read Psalm 41:10-12
10 But you, O Lord,
be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!
11 By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will
not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
What does the psalmist demand from YHWH?
Mercy to ME– Vengence of God to THEM ("by this" = proof in v.11)
CONFIDENCE – delight,
integrity (tamim – blamelessness) Stand before you.
Read Psalm 41:13
13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel
How does this end?
The end of BOOK 1 in Psalms. We will see more doxologies
ending the other 4 books, too. Confidence & Praise!
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?
What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
Describe Poor – blessed, delivered
Identify with Poor – I am a sinner, save ME
Lament Enemies & friends against him.
Demand Justice = he has confidence it WILL happen
How does Christ fulfill this psalm?
He prayed this fully. He had FULL assurance that God
would judge & he would stand. (Victory over death) We can say these same
things & expect to stand!
Describe Poor – blessed, delivered
Identify with Poor – I am a sinner, save ME
Lament Enemies & friends against us
Demand Justice = confidence God's justice will happen
And
forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
What
does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would
not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are
worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them;
but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and
indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also
heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.
Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What
does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without
our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.
How
is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which
would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will
of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast
in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.
