Psalm 41 – Blessing and Betrayal
This is another Psalm that covers a lot of ground. It starts by noting the blessing of those who care for the poor and how God cares for those He loves. It moves on to a prayer for mercy. Then hidden in the middle is verse 9, which has been viewed as a prophecy of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus to the Pharisees. Not only did Judas share food with Jesus, it was in handing the bread to Judas that Jesus revealed at the last supper who it was who would betray Him. Matthew 26:20-24 (NIV).
Psalm 41
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
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,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!
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Thank you, Linda
Never made the Judas/Jesus connection in verse 9 at all. Thanks too for pointing that out 🙂
[P.S. Why did I see Job in verses 6-9? Thanks for your thoughts]
Blessings,
ann
Ann, I had to go back and reread it, and I see what you mean about verses 6-9. Very Job-like, indeed. Peace, Linda
Thank you Linda, for pointing that out to us, about it being prophetic of Judas. I’m at that part of Luke, the last supper and so this blessed me! Praying that your day is blessed too!
Deb, It just seems appropriate to me to focus on the prophetic Psalms as much as possible during the season of Lent. Also, I am reading a book called The Day Christ Died, which I read before about 10 years ago. I’m hoping to finish it again between now and Easter and do a review of it. I was reading it last night and am at the part about the Last Supper, too. Looking forward to your Last Supper post! Peace, Linda