Psalm Chapter 41

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

This is one of my favorite verses and one I really want to emphasize. We have gotten so used to the government helping the poor that we no longer feel a responsibility to help. I know there are some that take advantage of the welfare system and churches but there are those that really need help.

Many churches have programs which help people in times of need and emergencies. I will commend those churches. They are doing what the bible teaches. Helping the missionaries and supporting them is also a necessity for we need to provide the gospel as well as food to other nations.

David Wilkerson suggests building a church by starting first with a food giveaway program in inner cities. There have been churches started that way. This may be something to consider. In all these things we must be led by the spirit and never neglect the main purpose of the church which is to bring the gospel. Food alone is not good enough but it's a start. There are churches now that have foster care systems, food pantries, outreach ministries and much more. Yet in all those things, we must not get so busy doing good things that the message of salvation and the teachings of the word take a back seat. This is the most important: To feed souls with the word of God.

Psalm 41:2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Here is the promise to those that help the poor. The Lord will preserve him, keep him alive and not deliver him to the will of his enemies. If we give to the poor we are protected by God according to these verses.

Psalm 41:3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Looks as if giving to the poor also aids in the healing of the body.

Psalm 41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Here we see that the author is asking for healing for his soul which has sinned against God.

This is the way to bring healing to us in both soul, body and spirit. We need to repent of sin and turn to God. We cannot make it on our own. Jesus Christ made the way for us to be free from sin and stand before Him with a pure heart. Repenting of sin and turning to Jesus is the only way to be rid of sin and inherit eternal life.

Giving to the poor does not save the soul but there is a natural law in effect called repeating what we sow. If we sow righteousness and consider the poor, we will reap what we sow. If we are stingy, we will reap the same. It robs our soul also because it shuts us up to the joy and peace that comes in serving and loving God in obedience and giving to those that can't give back to us.

There is a joy to those who obey God and keep His commandments. There is a peace to those who don't try to hold onto material possessions and trust in God to take care of them as they release their trust in Him by caring for others.

Psalm 41:5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

A true friend is not one that compliments you to your face and then attacks you behind your back.

Psalm 41:8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

This is a prophecy of the time when Judas betrayed Jesus. David also suffered these like same things. His own son and others lifted up themselves against David at one time. Saul betrayed and tried to harm him. Absalom tried to steal His right to the throne of Israel.

Psalm 41:10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

God sees all that are oppressed by those that are evil. God will recompense all unrighteousness. There is a day of judgment and all will be revealed. This is why we must come to Christ now and have our sins placed under the blood of Jesus and covered. We don't have to die in our sins and be guilty before God in the judgment day. It doesn't matter what we have done, we can be free from sin. That is the whole reason Jesus Christ came. -DC

Psalm 42

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