Thursday Psalms: O Lord, Be Gracious!

 

Considering Sunday's Gospel includes Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan, it is easy to see why Psalm 41 is included in the readings for Sunday.  David compares those who care for the poor, sick and needy [vv 1-4] to his enemies who do the opposite to David when he needs help [vv5-9].  The first section is the basis for David's plea that the Lord save him, and it also condemns David's enemies who have not cared for him as the Lord requires.     

Psalm 41    To the choirmaster.  A Psalm of David.

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.

⁴ As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;

        heal me, for I have sinned against You!”

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.

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.

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.

¹³ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

        from everlasting to everlasting!             

             Amen and Amen.

In the final movement of this psalm [vv10-13], we hear that David is certain that the Lord is on his side and not his enemies'.  David challenges the Lord to give him the promised salvation.  David acknowledges his "integrity" [v12a], that he does care for the poor and thus he brings the Lord's salvation to them.  Those who care for the poor are agents through whom the Lord brings deliverance and salvation.  As psalm 41 makes clear, salvation in all its forms ultimately comes from the Lord alone.

Though he is a sinner, David lives as one who trusts in the Lord  and desires to do His will.  In spite of David's present circumstances (sick, needy, under attack), he is certain of where he stands with the Lord.  Pray the Holy Spirit gives you this confidence and trust in God's promises, found throughout God's Word and purchased for us in the blood of Jesus Christ!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188 

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Soli Deo Gloria

"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9