Sharper Iron — The Psalter: The LORD Regards the Needy

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Rev. Rick Jones, chaplain and director of spiritual life at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 41.

The LORD is the God who considers the poor; those who belong to Him by grace are blessed and formed after Him to show similar compassion to the needy. In his sickness, David cries out to the LORD for such help. David takes the opportunity to confess his sin because he knows full healing can only come from the LORD’s forgiveness. As David waits for the LORD’s deliverance, he cries out as his enemies add insult to injury during his sickness. Even his close friends will not stand by David; they betray him in his need. In this way, Psalm 41 speaks prophetically about Judas’ betrayal of the Lord Jesus. Jesus has felt the deep pain of betrayal; He is our Brother who sympathizes with us in our sufferings. Even in the midst of such enemies, Psalm 41 teaches us to remain confident in the LORD’s deliverance. Blessed be His name forever!

Join Sharper Iron during the month of July to study several Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 41

O Lord, Be Gracious to Me

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

41 Blessed is the one who considers the poor![a]
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.[b]

4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
heal me,[c] 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.[d]

8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out[e] 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.

Footnotes

Psalm 41:1 Or weak

Psalm 41:3 Hebrew you turn all his bed

Psalm 41:4 Hebrew my soul

Psalm 41:7 Or they devise evil against me

Psalm 41:8 Or has fastened

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org