Psalm 41 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 41 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Happy are those who consider the poor; the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.
Verse 2The Lord protects them and keeps them alive; they are called happy in the land. You do not give them up to the will of their enemies.
Verse 3The Lord sustains them on their sickbed; in their illness you heal all their infirmities.
Verse 4As for me, I said, "O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you."
Verse 5My enemies wonder in malice when I will die, and my name perish.
Verse 6And when they come to see me, they utter empty words, while their hearts gather mischief; when they go out, they tell it abroad.
Verse 7All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.
Verse 8They think that a deadly thing has fastened on me, that I will not rise again from where I lie.
Verse 9Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me.
Verse 10But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.
Verse 11By this I know that you are pleased with me; because my enemy has not triumphed over me.
Verse 12But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
Verse 13Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
Devotion
Here is the cry of a very sick person. Worst of all, there seems to be no comfort in the community. Even someone close has abandoned him. Yet he begins his lament with "Happy are those... the Lord delivers..." And he ends it praising God. So from beginning to ending, he knows God is doing something, even though his experience is contrary.
This makes one think that trusting in personal experiences does not always give hope. It helps us remember that our ultimate hope will not come through human relationships but in trusting that God is at work. We also recognize that when in pain the support of friends and a faith-community is also a gift of God.
Prayer
May we always find our protection and sustenance in you, O God. And in your mercy also grant us the understanding and support of friends. Amen