5 November 2001

Psalm 41

THE PROBLEM OF ENEMIES

Activities of Wicked Enemies Identified

1. Wicked Enemies will speak evil of us
"My enemies speak evil of me…" Ps. 41:5

2. Wicked Enemies will wish us dead
"When will he die, and his name perish?" Ps. 41:5

3. Wicked Enemies will resort to lies
"And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies…" Ps. 41:6

4. Wicked Enemies will gather sinful data and slander us
"His heart gathers iniquity to itself;
When he goes out, he tells it" Ps. 41:6

5. Wicked Enemies will hate us
"All who hate me…" Ps. 41:7

6. Wicked Enemies will plot with others against us
"All who hate me whisper together against me;
Against me they devise my hurt" Ps. 41:7

7. Wicked Enemies will not regret hurting us
"Against me they devise my hurt…" Ps. 41:7

8. Wicked Enemies will deliberately twist the truth
"An evil disease," they say, "clings to him.
And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more" Ps. 41:8

9. Wicked Enemies can be erstwhile friends
"Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted
who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me" Ps. 41:9

CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD DESPITE THE PROBLEM OF ENEMIES
"By this I know that You are well-pleased with me…" Ps. 41:11

1. Trust that the Lord will deliver
"Blessed is the man who considers the poor;
The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble" Ps. 41:1

2. Trust that the Lord will preserve
"The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive,
and he will be blessed on the earth" Ps. 41:2

3. Trust that the Lord will not deliver us to our enemies
"You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies" Ps. 41:2

"My enemy does not triumph over me…" Ps. 41:11

4. Trust that the Lord will sustain and strengthen us in times of illness
"The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness;
You will sustain him on his sickbed" Ps. 41:3

5. Trust that the Lord would uphold and set us before His face always
"As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
and set me before Your face forever" Ps. 4:12

PRAYER IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

1. Always Confess Sin
"Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you…" Ps. 41:4

2. Always Plead for mercy
"Lord, be merciful to me…" Ps. 41:4

"But You, O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up…" Ps. 41:10

THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER MUST BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY

1. He cares for the poor
"Blessed is he who considers the poor…" Ps. 41:1

2. He has integrity
"As for me, You uphold me in my integrity" Ps. 41:12

PRAISE FROM THE HEART FOR FAITH IN A GREAT GOD

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel!
From everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen." Ps. 41:13