SCRIPTURE: Psalm 41:1-13
OBSERVATION:
Written while very sick, possibly near death.
He feels abandoned, betrayed, depressed.
Reaffirms his confidence in God over sickness and death.
He trusts that God helps those who are kind to the poor, weak, oppressed, therefore God will restore His suffering servant.
Does this prayer reflect a discouraged person after prolonged sickness, where he feels the neglect of even those who are close to him?
APPLICATION:
I hear God’s encouragement to remember and support those who are weak, and probably discouraged, their sickness can make them feel abandoned, neglected, even betrayed.
I also am inspired to reaffirm my confidence in the Lord, especially when I am feeling discouraged.
To verbalize my struggles as well as my hope, to keep my life in God’s perspective.
Satan uses sickness to lead us to despair of God, this psalm reminds me to express my hope in God especially in times of sickness.
PRAYER:
Lord, You are my only hope, my strength when I am weak, and my confidence when everyone else is against me. Help me to remember this when I am going through tough times. No matter what happens, You remain God, and You remain good! Amen.
The Psalmist starts with the affirmation of blessings to those who do His work. The Lord promises Life and deliverance. The Lord never abandons the people He loves, although people – friends do abandon eachother. I must need be a person of integrity, living for Jesus at all times and in all times. I am reminded of the friends of Job, the advice they gave him. Yet Job remained steadfast – rooted in Him. So I too need to be faithful in all circumstances – in joy and in sorrow, in the good times and the bad HE is there. I am in His presence at all times. It is well with my soul.
Strengthen me Lord that I never treat You as my friends have treated me. May I never lift up my heel against You. Help me to always be an encourager, an ever present help for all of Your people. Help me to be a blessing. May I always have the upward look, knowing where my help comes from and never, never focus on the downward look. My confidence each day is in YOU!
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Psalm 41
I too see this psalm as a lament of someone who is going through rough times. But he declares his confidence in God who still will give the victory over his enemies and disease. His faith is based on God’s promises and his own integrity. His pain and despair is real.
How would I respond to the cynics in times when God does not heal or give answers to my prayers? But I know that I know that God is good all the time and will not abandon me. I find great strength in that knowledge. So Satan, when you seek to undermine my faith by sickness I will not be shaken! That confidence is what David means I think by his “integrity” . I do not want to brag… and I think David is close to doing so… about my faith but like Paul rather boast of what Christ has done for me so nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Lord I pray that your name will always be praised even when I go through rough times. I know you will not abandon me to my enemies even when I lament the pain of my situation. You are bigger than any problem or disease that might afflict me. Thank you Lord.