Psalm 41 – He Upholds Us
By Bunni Pounds
*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.
God sustains us, cares for us, and watches over us with His love. He does not forget about us. He doesn’t stop praying for us. He upholds us.
So just like Him - the needs of the household of faith should always be a priority for us as believers.
When we become born again – we enter not only a relationship with God but a relationship with His Church. We find a family, one we never saw coming, but a strength in relationship and community that should be part of the transformation process for us as we journey through life.
Within that Body – there are always needs. Some believers are rich and some are poor. Even as we look around into the desperation in other parts of the world – there are the poor, the persecuted, and the downtrodden.
God gives us a special promise for those who consider the poor and I believe the context of this passage when David talks about the “poor” is even more powerful than just those who are without necessities. The needy are actually their own people – or the people of faith.
“Blessed is he who considers the poor;
The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive,
And he will be blessed on the earth;
You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.” (verses 1-2)
God gives us a responsibility, but he also gives us a promise if we take care of the people around us and consider their needs. It has a sowing and reaping effect that is amazingly divine. We might not see it right away in response to a good deed, but we will see it.
Galatians 6:9-10 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
We have all heard the story of Job – where he lost all of his family, his livestock, and then became ill almost to death with the torture of boils all over his body where he despaired and wanted to die.
His “friends” came to him for chapter after chapter and questioned his integrity and made judgements about him that he had sinned and not been faithful to God, but that was not the case. He was just suffering. The enemy had been allowed in and he was experiencing great pain.
Let me say this – it is not our responsibility to figure out why horrible things are happening to the people of faith, but it is our responsibility to minister to them through every spiritual AND physical means necessary.
It does not help people of faith who are going through trials and tribulations for us to analyze their sufferings and essentially judge them. We are called to minister faith and love to them in those seasons.
David was feeling the pain of his season – he was being hated by some of his dearest friends. “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me.” (verse 9).
The “heel” speaks to betrayal and treachery and an extremely hurtful situation by someone who has been in his home, eaten with him, and probably even known his family. This was a close betrayal which makes it even more painful.
When I ran for Congress – there were some ladies that had been in my Bible Study for staffers of elected officials for years that when I came out against their friend or friends in an 8-person primary – turned on me instantly. It was extremely hurtful as one of them created a hashtag #SwampBunni and blasted me constantly on social media. That friend was so ugly and hateful, and I have to be honest and say – it was hard for my soul to deal with. I thought I had invested a lot in our friendship and had ministered to her life, but to her – it was just politics and she turned on me quickly.
How do we respond when people turn against us? It will happen at some point if we are believers because there will be people who will not receive the truth of the gospel lived out in our lives.
David cried out to God and said, “But You, O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them.” (verse 10)
I love how the Passion Translation reads on this verse – “So Lord, please don’t desert me when I need you! Give me grace and get me back on my feet so I can triumph over them.”
The faithfulness of God is seen so clearly in this chapter and the Psalmist’s greatest plea is found in verse 12 – “As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever.’
He understands in a season of suffering that the only thing that will hold him together AND keep his integrity intact is to stay before the Lord in the place of prayer.
When we talk about staying before the Lord or looking into His face, practically we are talking about meditating, thinking, and studying the attributes of God – His character, His preferences, His personality, and His promises to us.
It is this focused attention that changes us and makes us more like Him. We seek Him because He is real. He is not a figment of our imagination or a good thought – but a real God who is alive that loves us.
Something powerful happens when we lay aside everything else and focus in on Him. We receive sustaining faith for our lives and are able to shake off quicker the sins and discouragements that try to ensnare us.
Hebrews 12:1-2 - “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The beauty of Jesus and His love for us is what changes us and protects us. I remember the prayer of Jesus right before He goes to the cross and how He is thinking about His people and even you and I into the future even in that moment.
John 17: 9-10 here in the Passion Translation,
“So with deep love, I pray for my disciples.
I’m not asking on behalf of the unbelieving world,
but for those who belong to you,
those you have given me.
For all who belong to me now belong to you.
And all who belong to you now belong to me as well,
and my glory is revealed through their surrendered lives.”
Out of that love comes a response. The thanksgiving, praise, and worship forever to the Lord of our lives flows from this place of love by Jesus.
In that love connection we know that He “upholds” us. (verse 12)
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.” (verse 13)
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