A Road Map for Life | Beginning With GodSample

IN TIME OF TROUBLE (Psalm 41)

*Psalm 41 is the final psalm in the first section of the book of Psalms. It was written by David and, although we do not know all of the background, we know he was using it as a testimony of God’s faithfulness in his life.

Everyone has problems. You will never meet anyone who has not gone through or is going through a hard time. The Bible says in Job 14:1, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” David, as king of Israel, had no shortage of trouble. None of us will escape trouble in this world; we live in troubled times.

With that in mind, consider verse 1 of Psalm 40: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.”

Think about that last phrase. There are times when people go through specific troubles or even have seasons of it. Maybe that is where you find yourself right now.

But remember that this psalm begins with the word “blessed.” Psalm 1 begins the same way. From beginning to end, our God is the God of blessing, and His blessing is greater than your burden, your brokenness, or whatever you are dealing with today. You can have the blessing of God “in times of trouble.”

Notice that while this is a certain promise, it is also a conditional promise. God provides this for those who consider the poor. We see that and immediately think of caring for those who are lacking in material things. That is true, but the word used here for “poor” actually means “weak ones.” So it could also be referring to someone who is struggling physically or in some other way.

God is telling us here that if we help others in their time of trouble, He will deliver us in ours. It sounds a lot like the law of sowing and reaping to me. In other words, as we minister to the needs of other people, God continues to minister to us.

How does He do that? In the rest of the psalm, David explained what that deliverance looks like. It is rich and wonderful.

Verse 2: “The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.”

Wouldn’t you like all of those good things from God to happen to you? To receive the promise of verse 2, you must apply the principle of verse 1.

"Minister to other people. As you find those who are in trouble and share the goodness and grace of God with them, you will find strength for your own soul and your situation."

Verse 3: “The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.”

I love this. It is a picture of someone on a sick bed or perhaps even thinking it is his death bed. But the Lord provides strength. No one has a bedside manner like He does. I thank God for good doctors and medical personnel, but I am so glad that He is the Great Physician. He comes where no one else can come, does what no one else can do, and loves like no one else can love. What a wonderful Savior we have.

Verse 4: “I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.”

This is a change in perspective. In the previous verse, David was referring to someone else, but here he makes it personal. He is saying to hurting people, “I have been there. I was hurting, I called on God, and He met me there.”

We comfort others with the same comfort that we have received. You will be able to encourage someone else out of the overflow of what God has done in your own life.

Notice that he mentioned the healing of the soul. That is the greatest healing there is. We usually think of healing as it pertains only to the body, but David did not refer to that. Man’s greatest need is always his spiritual need.

Verses 5-9: “Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”

I don’t know about you, but to me, those verses sound pretty discouraging. His enemies were standing against him. People came to see him in his sick room, then stood in the corner whispering about him. His own friend turned against him. It sounds as though the entire world was out to get him.

Let me remind you that if the world turns against you and God is for you, it will be all right.

Verses 10-12: “But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.”

Don’t you love it when God “butts” in? David knew that no matter what happened, the Lord would hold him up and keep him. If every single person leaves you and forsakes you, the presence of God is all that you need in times of trouble.

The first book of the Psalms ends this way, in verse 13: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.”

This psalm begins with God blessing us and ends with us blessing Him. It is a great reminder of what all of the psalms are. God blesses us, but we are to turn around and bless Him for His goodness to us.

It was a dark time in World War II. The Allies were advancing slowly through Italy. Supplies were being rationed. Folks were having a hard time.

A pastor’s wife in Pennsylvania named Ruth Caye Jones sat down in 1943 and started writing down some thoughts on a notepad that she kept in her apron pocket. Eventually, those words took the form of this hymn:

In times like these you need a Savior,

In times like these you need an anchor;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,

In times like these, O be not idle;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In these troubled times, are you anchored in Jesus? Are you anchored in the Word of God which will abide forever? Only the Lord and His Word will help you in times of trouble.

| We have enjoyed studying this portion of Scripture with you! Be sure to look for each additional series (releasing over the next 5 months). We pray that you will continue in this new beginning with God! Keep following God's roadmap for life! |