These 2 psalms of David’s are psalms of deliverance. They were probably written when he was was on run after his son Absalom rebelled against him. However, as you will see in the coming stories, David never really has times of peace. There is yet another “enemy” waiting to rise up against him. Let’s dig in….
Psalm 41
1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
2 The Lord protects them
and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land
and rescues them from their enemies.
3 The Lord nurses them when they are sick
and restores them to health.4 “O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.
Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
“How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.
6 They visit me as if they were my friends,
but all the while they gather gossip,
and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
7 All who hate me whisper about me,
imagining the worst.
8 “He has some fatal disease,” they say.
“He will never get out of that bed!”
9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
the one who shared my food, has turned against me.10 Lord, have mercy on me.
Make me well again, so I can pay them back!
11 I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
12 You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
you have brought me into your presence forever.13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
Psalm 41 NLT
who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!
Why do bad things happen to good people?
That’s the question of the ages. David was kind to Saul’s grandson when he had every right to kill him. Yet, his own son rebelled against him. Why, because he sinned with Bathsheba. We have choices that we make every day. We are tempted to stray off the straight and narrow. When we yield to temptation, we suffer the consequences.
The Good News is that we have a God who lives from everlasting to everlasting. That means He is available to help us 24/7. Nevertheless, He wants us to obey Him. When we obey, things go better. We suffer less.
If we let pride get the better of us, God makes sure to humble us. If we humble ourselves, He will exalt us. That’s just how He works!
Psalm 55
1 Listen to my prayer, O God.
Do not ignore my cry for help!
2 Please listen and answer me,
for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
3 My enemies shout at me,
making loud and wicked threats.
They bring trouble on me
and angrily hunt me down.4 My heart pounds in my chest.
The terror of death assaults me.
5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me,
and I can’t stop shaking.
6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove;
then I would fly away and rest!
7 I would fly far away
to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude
8 How quickly I would escape—
far from this wild storm of hatred.9 Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans,
for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
but the real danger is wickedness within the city.
11 Everything is falling apart;
threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.12 It is not an enemy who taunts me—
I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—
I could have hidden from them.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal,
my companion and close friend.
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed
as we walked together to the house of God.15 Let death stalk my enemies;
let the grave swallow them alive,
for evil makes its home within them.16 But I will call on God,
and the Lord will rescue me.
17 Morning, noon, and night
I cry out in my distress,
and the Lord hears my voice.
18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe
from the battle waged against me,
though many still oppose me.
19 God, who has ruled forever,
will hear me and humble them. Interlude
For my enemies refuse to change their ways;
they do not fear God.20 As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;
he broke his promises.
21 His words are as smooth as butter,
but in his heart is war.
His words are as soothing as lotion,
but underneath are daggers!22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.23 But you, O God, will send the wicked
Psalm 55 NLT
down to the pit of destruction.
Murderers and liars will die young,
but I am trusting you to save me.
Running and Hiding from Troubles Doesn’t Work
- The worst wounds are those inflicted by a so-called friend. It hurts when you are stabbed in the back, when you are betrayed. Jesus knew that pain.
- Running away from problems doesn’t work, because you take your biggest problem with you — and that’s YOU! You are your biggest problem!
- We are what’s wrong with the world! We’ve abandoned God. We take things for granted and cry when they are no longer available and blame someone or something else. (Live with an attitude of gratitude!)
- No matter what trouble you’re in, you can face it with Jesus.
- Like David wrote in the last line… “I am trusting you to save me.” Salvation is found in no one else, but Jesus Christ. Not in a church, nor any other person. Certainly not Mary or a “saint“. Salvation is only THROUGH JESUS!
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.