February 26, 2009
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH . . . BREAKOUT THE KNEEPADS!
Psalm 41
Thomas Fuerst
Central Truth
How we react to sin says a lot about how we are walking with Christ.
Key Verse | Psalm 41:12
As for me, you uphold me because of my integrity; you allow me permanent access to your presence. (Psalm 41:12)
Psalm 41
O LORD, Be Gracious to Me
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1
Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
1
41:1
Or weak
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.
2
41:3
Hebrew you turn all his bed
4
As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
heal me,
3
41:4
Hebrew my soul
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.
4
41:7
Or they devise evil against me
8
They say, “A deadly thing is poured out
5
41:8
Or has fastened
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.
Dive Deeper | Psalm 41
As a Christian, it is easy for me to get down on myself because of my sin. I think I’m doing pretty well in my walk―attending church regularly, reading my Bible, helping out with a ministry, listening to a favorite pastor on the radio―when suddenly my flesh causes me to stumble and sin. I go from the heights of walking with Christ to the depths of feeling outcast and ashamed.
It is interesting, then, to contrast how David reacts after his sin. Perhaps this refers to his spectacular double sin of adultery and murder (see 2 Samuel 11:1-17). Whatever sin it is in Psalm 41, David is tormented by it and is suffering from what others describe as "an awful disease." (Psalm 41:8) Many people came to visit him, but not always with good intentions, adding insult to injury. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, however, David cries out to the Lord for mercy from the consequences of his sin and asks the Lord to heal him.
Too often, I tend to get down on myself for my sin and wallow in my own despair. Instead, I should take a cue from David, confidently reach out to the Lord, and ask forgiveness for my sin. Just as David affirms in verse 12, I, as a believer in Christ, have permanent access to God to seek forgiveness. Through His death on the cross, Jesus has already removed my sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12, NIV), and I am holy and blameless in the eyes of God.
David’s enemies judged him by his conduct (sin) or appearance (illness), but David writes that God upheld him because of his integrity. (Psalm 41:12) Therefore, just as David had the integrity to confess his sins to God and turn to Him for forgiveness, it is important that we do so openly and honestly, not on our terms but on His.
Discussion Questions
1. Describe how permanent access to the throne of God has impacted your life.
2. What are the sin patterns in your life that are continuously causing you to stumble? Are you exhibiting integrity in trying to overcome them?
3. What are some ways in which you can reorient yourself towards God when you are struggling with sin?