The Daily Psalm

The Daily Psalm: Growing in God through Praying the Psalms

The Daily Psalm: A Devotional by Mark D. Roberts, encouraging prayer based on the Psalms. Learn how to pray the Psalms.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Happy are those who consider the poor;
the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble.

Psalm 41:1

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Psalm 41

0 To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1 Happy are those who consider the poor;
  the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble.
2 The 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.
3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed;
  in their illness you heal all their infirmities.
4 As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
  heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 My enemies wonder in malice
  when I will die, and my name perish.
6 And when they come to see me, they utter empty words,
  while their hearts gather mischief;
  when they go out, they tell it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
  they imagine the worst for me.
8 They think that a deadly thing has fastened on me,
  that I will not rise again from where I lie.
9 Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted,
  who ate of my bread, has lifted the 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 are pleased with me;
  because my enemy has not triumphed 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.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 41:1)

I confess, Lord, that it's easy for me to forget the poor. In my daily life I don't see them very much because I live in such a sheltered environment. And, besides, it's messy to think about the poor. Their problems are so large; the solutions so overwhelming. Yet I know that You care for the poor. If I'm to be Your disciple, if I'm to have a heart like Yours, if I'm to live in a way that honors You, then concern for the weak, the homeless, and the hungry is essential. Help me to care for the least of these, Your brothers and sisters.

Thank You, gracious God, for Psalm 41, and for so many other parts of Your Word that remind me of the needy and the oppressed. Through the Scripture You challenge me, stretch me, and point me to what really matters. Sometimes I'd rather not experience these things because, frankly, they're not comfortable. But I need Your Word to enlarge my vision and discipline my heart. So, thanks be to You for the impact of Your Word on my life.

Postscript

Scripture reveals a close connection between God and the poor. I'm continually challenged by verses such as these from Proverbs:

Those who oppress the poor insult their     Maker,
  but those who are kind to the needy     honor him. (14:31)

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the     LORD,
  and will be repaid in full. (19:17)

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