Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

PSALM 41: MY BEST FRIEND…HAS TURNED AGAINST ME The Betrayal of Christ

This psalm is about the betrayal of David’s lifelong friend and priest, Abiathar. It was most likely writ- ten after the rebellion of David’s son Adonijah in 1 Kings 1 and 2. Jesus quotes this psalm directly at the last supper in reference to his betrayal by Judas Iscariot. It is closely related to Psalm 55 as both deal with the unfaithfulness of a trusted friend.

INTRODUCTION:

“ For the choir director: A psalm of David.” (See Psalm 40)

The psalms were divided by the Hebrews into five different ‘books’ following the pattern of the first five books written by Moses. Psalm 41is the last psalm of the ‘Genesis Book’ and it ends with a doxol- ogy or song of blessing: “ Bless the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives forever from eternal ages past. Amen and amen!” (13) Each book ends with a similar blessing except 150, which is a doxology to the whole book of psalms.

Psalm 41 is divided into three sections that are closely related. Sections 2 and 3 both begin with the phrase: “ O Lord…have mercy on me.”(4, 10)

I CONSIDERATION OF THE POOR - 1-3 II CRUELTY OF BETRAYAL - 4-9 III COMING INTO GOD’S PRESENCE - 10-12 IV. CONSIDERATION OF THE POOR - 1-3

“ Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor.”(1) [“Blessed is he who considers the poor.” (NKJ)]

This is the third ‘blessing’ psalm the first being Psalm 1 that speaks of the blessing of walking in the light of his word; the second is Psalm 32 that tells us of the blessing of being forgiven and the third is this psalm; being kind to the poor. The psalm is also about the Messiah who became poor for our sakes: “ Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.”(2 Cor. 8:9) Any kindness shown to the poor of this world is in reality a direct kindness shown to Jesus as he aligns himself with them. “ Then the righteous ones will reply, Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?…Or naked and give you clothing?…And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”(Mt.25:37-40) David’s greatest act of kindness to the poor was when he brought Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crip- pled son, into his palace and restored his land and possessions to him. “ Mephibosheth fell to the ground before the king. ‘Should the king show such kindness to a dead dog like me?’ he exclaimed.”(2 Sam.9:8) 1. Deliverance from trouble- “ The Lord rescues them in times of trouble.”(1) 2. Protection- “ The Lord protects them…”(2) 3. Preservation- “ …and keeps them alive.”(2) 4. Prosperity- “ He gives them prosperity…” (2) Solomon tells us in Proverbs “ If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord-and he will repay you.”(19:17) 5. Deliverance from enemies- “ …and rescues them from their enemies.” (2) 6. Sustained in Suffering- “ The Lord nurses them when they are sick…”(3) 7. Restored Health- “ …and eases their pain and discomfort. […and restore him from his bed of ill- ness.]”(3) (NIV) There are 7 direct benefits of being kind to the poor all of which David experienced in the follow- ing sections of this psalm.

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