Day 87

Psalm 41: Read here – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2041&version=NASB

This is a psalm of triumph over trouble” V1 is an interesting opening to this psalm of lament. The poor are not just the economically challenged but in the broader sense; the week and helpless, those who are poor in love and hope and the knowledge of God. It would appear from the wording of this psalm that David was sick(v8) and in danger of death (v5). He was also struggling with betrayal (v6-8). 

Like believers of all ages, David had to endure sometimes, outrageous slander and defamation. The early history of Christianity tells why people in the Roman Empire thought Christians were worthy of persecution. They were accused falsely of: hostility towards the emperors, incest, cannibalism, atheism, being haters of humanity, and bringing problems to the empire. The enemies of early Christians spoke evil of the followers of Jesus, and they spoke lies. 

David knew of – or at least could sense – the whispered conspiracies set in motion against him, which were meant to devise his hurt (v7). David’s woe was made more bitter because among his enemies were those who had once been a familiar friend to him. He knew what it was like when trusted friends – those he had a close relationship with (who ate my bread) – betrayed him; betrayed by his own son Absalom (2Samuel 15) and by a trusted adviser named Ahithophel (2Samuel 15:12 and 15:31). What greater wound can there be than a treacherous friend? 

In the ultimate and most sinister sense, this was fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus. Jesus specifically applied these words to Judas and his treachery. In John 13:18 Jesus quoted this phrase, but only the words, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Some think Jesus deliberately left off the words, ‘in whom I trusted.’ because He didn’t trust Judas (John12:6 and 13:29). The kiss of the traitor wounded our Lord’s heart as much as the nail wounded his hand. So, these words were literally fulfilled in David, and yet the Holy Spirit, which inspired them, looked beyond them, to Christ and Judas, in whom they received a further and fuller accomplishment.