Bible Blog Psalm 41: God’s blessing on the charitable man. The psalmist complains of his enemies. He pleads for God’s merciful aid. Like Job, David has “friends” who come to watch at his bedside when he is seriously ill. Possibly he has been wounded in battle or has fallen sick from one of many pestilences which were common in his day. Or maybe here he faces his final illness, weak and suffering chills; even his lifetime companions Joab and Abiathar have gone over to his rebellious son Adonijah, and those hovering over him seem more anxious for him to die than to see him recover. David has been a man eager to forgive and willing to help the unfortunate, people like Mephibosheth who could not expect to receive mercy and kindness from him, but did. Now David claims God’s promise to preserve the man who pays attention to others who suffer. Luke 22:47 tells of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus in Gethsemane, and in Acts 1:16 Luke records Peter’s application of David’s words in Ps. 41:9. Even in this hour of betrayal, David turns to God, knowing He will not allow the enemy to triumph. Prayer: Father, it is easy to fear when misfortune comes or when I fall sick that this is the end of everything I have worked for. Help me to remember this promise that You never forget acts of kindness to the least of Your children. Help me to believe that even if I succumb to heart disease or cancer and leave my post of duty vacant, You will raise someone else up to finish the task, and in Your kingdom that person will join me in praising You for our salvation and the salvation of those You have commissioned us to rescue. Amen. Helen Pyke Retired Professor Southern Adventist University
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:39:28 +0000
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