Happy Are Those Who Consider The Poor
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
Happy are those who consider the poor;
the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble.
The LORD protects them and keeps them alive;
They are called happy in the land ...
As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you" ...
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
-- Psalm 41:1-2a, 4, 13
Theme: Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy
Outline
1-3 -- David takes hope and assurance in God's mercy to the merciful.
4-9 -- Sick and near death, he knows his enemies hope for the worst for him, and even a friend has turned against him.
10-12 -- He prays for God to raise him up, and to set him in his presence forever.
13 -- Doxology ending Book One of the psalter.
Notes
• Thanksgiving -- Lament, also Suffering Messiah
• Book One of the psalter began with a beatitude, "Happy (blessed) are those ... " and now ends with this psalm, "Happy are those...."
• David's situation here may be that told in 2 Samuel 15-17. Though not mentioned in 2 Samuel, illness may have prevented David from attending to duties and so occasioned the unrest evidenced by Absalom's rebellion. The false friend was likely Ahithophel, his wise and trusted counselor. (See 2 Samuel 15:30-31; 16:15-19; and 17:21-23.)
• Poor can also mean weak or sick. Note the reasons David in his illness finds assurance and hope (vv. 1-3).
• A vivid description of the visitors to the sick king (v. 6).
• "Repay them" (v. 10) -- to take vengeance? Probably not, for David refrained from that as, for example 1 Samuel 25:33 and 2 Samuel 3:37-39. It was probably to punish the traitors who had turned against him, God's appointed king.
• See John 13:1-8 where Christ quotes it as a prophecy of his betrayal.
For Reflection
• This psalm, familiar to our Lord, was one of his prayers. How is each verse or section applicable to him? How does he "fill full" each part of the psalm?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you promised blessings to those who, with you, love the poor, the broken, and the powerless. When you were hated by enemies, betrayed by a friend, you sought only the Father's will and favor, and he raised you and exalted you forever. Bring us poor and broken ones into his presence with you. Amen.
the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble.
The LORD protects them and keeps them alive;
They are called happy in the land ...
As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you" ...
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
-- Psalm 41:1-2a, 4, 13
Theme: Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy
Outline
1-3 -- David takes hope and assurance in God's mercy to the merciful.
4-9 -- Sick and near death, he knows his enemies hope for the worst for him, and even a friend has turned against him.
10-12 -- He prays for God to raise him up, and to set him in his presence forever.
13 -- Doxology ending Book One of the psalter.
Notes
• Thanksgiving -- Lament, also Suffering Messiah
• Book One of the psalter began with a beatitude, "Happy (blessed) are those ... " and now ends with this psalm, "Happy are those...."
• David's situation here may be that told in 2 Samuel 15-17. Though not mentioned in 2 Samuel, illness may have prevented David from attending to duties and so occasioned the unrest evidenced by Absalom's rebellion. The false friend was likely Ahithophel, his wise and trusted counselor. (See 2 Samuel 15:30-31; 16:15-19; and 17:21-23.)
• Poor can also mean weak or sick. Note the reasons David in his illness finds assurance and hope (vv. 1-3).
• A vivid description of the visitors to the sick king (v. 6).
• "Repay them" (v. 10) -- to take vengeance? Probably not, for David refrained from that as, for example 1 Samuel 25:33 and 2 Samuel 3:37-39. It was probably to punish the traitors who had turned against him, God's appointed king.
• See John 13:1-8 where Christ quotes it as a prophecy of his betrayal.
For Reflection
• This psalm, familiar to our Lord, was one of his prayers. How is each verse or section applicable to him? How does he "fill full" each part of the psalm?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you promised blessings to those who, with you, love the poor, the broken, and the powerless. When you were hated by enemies, betrayed by a friend, you sought only the Father's will and favor, and he raised you and exalted you forever. Bring us poor and broken ones into his presence with you. Amen.
