PSALM FORTY ONE

GOD IN THE SICK ROOM.

   This psalm is a song for the poor and afflicted. According to the Apostle 
Paul, the Church is assailed by "fightings without and fears within." But the 
Lord is with us.
   We may all count on being sick or sad at some time or another. The 
Psalmist commends a specific attitude, "Blessed is he that considereth the 
poor." The best health service is when God's people care for one another. 
There is a special providence mentioned in this psalm - God will strengthen 
the believer on his bed of sorrow. He will "change" his bed in sickness. God 
'eases' you when you are fed up. The phraseology in this psalm is very 
familiar to any who have suffered sickness.
   The psalmist mentions the sick visitors who come to the believer. His 
enemies who come and say, "When shall he die and his name perish?" We can be 
sure that when the enemy comes visiting it is with ill intent. Many a dear 
soul has been discouraged by a visit from the enemy.
   Visiting friends can be far from encouraging too. "Mine own familiar 
friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel 
against me," sings David. This particular part of the psalm was partly quoted 
by Jesus Christ with reference to Judas. There is a Judas in every 
generation. David may have been referring to Ahithophel.
   But to every believer there is a sure consolation. "By this I know that 
Thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me."  The 
presence of God is our certain assurance of ultimate deliverance. Oh to be 
able to say, as Job of old said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."  
God will preserve the believer. If He does not deliver us FROM the trial, He 
will deliver us THROUGH the trial. This was the testimony of the three Hebrew 
men, in Daniel's day, before they were cast into the fiery furnace for their 
faith in God. God delivered them from that situation without as much as the 
smell of burning on them.
   God will not desert those who trust in Him. He is there, very present, 
very evident, in the sick room. The promise of life is vibrant - in this 
world - and in the world to come.



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file: /pub/resources/text/hpalmer/psalms: ps-041.txt
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