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Sunday, February 10, 2008 pm

BETRAYED BY A TRUSTED FRIEND

PSALM 41

Tonight we study another psalm of David. This is a simple to follow psalm about friends in time of need. But it also has Messianic overtones as we shall see. As with so many of the psalms we do not know exactly the occasion David has in mind. Many commentators put it later in his life when his son Absalom stages a rebellion against him. This would explain the betrayal of a friend that he addresses in vs. 9.

One other interesting point about the placement of this psalm. It is the last psalm in book 1 of the psalms. The book of psalms is actually divided into 5 books.

The psalm can be divided into three sections. (1-3) Blessings toward those who consider the poor, (4-9) The hurt of a friend that has betrayed him, (10-13) The true friendship of God. Let us notice this psalm.

I. Beatitude toward those who consider the poor (1-3)

a. Blessed Is he who considers the poor – the word poor is defined as one who is needy or weak or oppressed. Considering this psalm, it very well could be that he is thinking of one oppressed – which in many instances would also lead to poverty.

b. One thing to learn from this is that God EXPECTS us to be compassionate toward those who are less fortunate and those who are not well off in society.

i. It was a part of the Old Law as brethren were commanded to care for each other and to NEVER forget that they were strangers in a foreign land (cf. Deut. 15:7-11, 10:19).

ii. It is also clearly expected of us as Christians today. Consider the following:
Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Galatians 2:10, “They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I was eager to do.” This text goes back to the conclusion of the Apostles & elders in Acts 15.
James 1:27 – “Pure and undefiled religions is this…visit orphans and widows…”
Luke 14:13-14 – When we give a feast, we should consider the poor, maimed, blind, etc.
Luke 10:25-37 – the parable of the Good Samaritan defines who our neighbor is as the one whom we have the opportunity to help.

Proverbs 19:17, “He who has pity on the poor, lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.” (e.g. – God takes not of what we do for the less fortunate.)

c. Note the blessings of he who remembers the poor – The Lord will deliver him in times of trouble, preserve him and bless him upon this earth (not necessarily with more wealth), deliver him from his enemies and sustain him on his sickbed.
NOTE: If David wrote this later in life, he could honestly say that the Lord had done all these things for him.
The lesson for us is this – we MUST think of others who are less fortunate than us and when we do (with more than just lip service – God takes note of it).

II. Betrayal by a trusted friend (4-9)

a. Throughout his life David had many enemies. And as he begins to approach God he speaks in typical fashion to Him asking for His help in defeating his enemies. He is grieved because he has such enemies. But this one hurts more than normal because it was one who was close to him.
Let us notice what David says:

b. Vs. 4 – “Lord be merciful to me...For I have sinned.” David knows he needs the help of Jehovah God because he has sinned against him. If the occasion was fleeing form his son Absalom, part of the reason is a result of sins. In fact, it is one of the punishments pronounced upon David for his sins against Bathsheba and Uriah. The condemnation of David by Nathan is found in 2 Samuel 12. In vs. 13 David says, “I have sinned against the Lord” (similar to vs. 4). Vs. 10-11 note that the sword would not depart from his house and “Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house...” Absalom, who staged a rebellion against David later in his life, was his son (2 Samuel 15-19).
Lesson: IF we want help from God, let us turn to Him – making ourselves right - first.

c. Vs. 5 - His enemy speaks evil of him (especially behind his back)

d. Vs. 6 – When he does come to visit he is gathering information against him – a two-faced “friend?”

e. Vs. 7-8 – then the enemy tells his friends evil things such as, ‘he has a disease’ or ‘he is going to die soon.’ Together they conspire against him.
IN these verses (6-8) you find the product of gossip – while here the intent is to bring harm, whether that is one’s motive or not – speaking hurtful things will damage friendships and is sinful. Gossip is strongly condemned by God – Prov. 16:28, “A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.”
Proverbs 25:18, “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor, is like a club, a sword and a sharp arrow.”

f. Vs. 9 – David notes that this enemy was a familiar friend, even one who ate bread in his house. One who at one time was close, but now he is an enemy.
Have you ever had a close friend turn against you? It is truly a painful thing and often very difficult to get over. This is how David felt on this occasion.
Consider Proverbs 25:19, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble, is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.”
There is a true example of this in the New Testament. Our Lord Jesus was betrayed by His closest friends. We are reminded of how Peter denied Him 3 times, even in His presence. But even more hurtful was when Judas Iscariot betrayed Him with a kiss. When Judas came to Jesus in the garden and kissed Him, our Lord said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” (Matt. 26:50). Jesus knew what Judas would do, but oh how it hurt. In fact, consider John 13:18 where Jesus identifies his betrayer. He said, “I do not speak concerning you all. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.” How truly sad that must be.

g. We ALL need friends. Let us try to be good friends to others. Proverbs 18:24, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” (NKJV) This proverb continues, “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (18:24).

III. The true friendship of God (10-13)

a. While David’s earthly friends abandoned him, he knew he could turn to his Lord. He knew that his Lord God would never forsake Him. In fact it was God’s mercy that Gave David hope – because he certainly didn’t deserve His blessings.

b. In dealing with his enemies (friends?) he requests the Lord’s help.
His victories are seen in overcoming his enemies.
In antithesis to the lies and falsehoods of his enemies, God knows the heart and upheld him in his integrity. Do we have the integrity we need for God to uphold it?
In considering our enemies, let us not forget our greatest enemy – Satan. He walks about like a roaring lion seeking to devour us – 1 Peter 5:8. Here he is called our adversary.

c. Truly in our lives, there is no friend greater than our Lord Jesus Christ. The words of the song, “What a friend we have in Jesus” ought to ring special comfort to us as we sing them. Because we know that no matter what man does to us in this life, no matter who forsakes us, the Lord will NOT! Cf. 2 Timothy 4:17, “But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.”

This psalm concludes with vs. 13 saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.” It is an praise to God above all things. It is interesting, that the five divisions of the psalms each end with a similar doxology (72:19, 89:52, 106:48, 150:6).

Let us value our friends and in the process, DON’T forget the poor! Think about it.