Psalm 41:1-13 Praying through Pain
I. The Consolation in Prayer -
Comfort in Trouble - 1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor:
the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
Comfort in Trial - 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.
Comfort in Tribulation - 3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
II. The Confession in Prayer -
4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
i. The Supplication - 4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me:
A Recognition of the Sinner's Place, the Sinner's Plight, Sinner's Plea.
ii. The Separation - heal my soul;
iii. The Situation - for I have sinned against thee.
III. The Conflict in Prayer - (5-9)
i. With Scorn - 5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
ii. With Slander 6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it
7 All that hate me whisper together against me against me do they devise my hurt.
iii With Skepticism 8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
iv. With Sedition 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (Ahithophel?)
IV. The Confidence in Prayer -
i. His Hope - 10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
ii. His Help - 11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
iii. His Hold - 12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity,
and settest me before thy face for ever.
iv. His Host - 13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
