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#5.
The blessing of consideration (Psa. 41: 1).
pp. 117 - 120
We have now to consider the fourth ground of blessing that is mentioned in the first
book of the Psalms, and this we find in Psa. 41: 1:--
"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble."
Psa. 41: is one of the Messianic Psalms. When we say this, let us not be
misunderstood. Christ is the sum and substance, the Alpha and the Omega of all
Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Every Psalm, therefore, speaks of Him. Some,
however, speak prophetically of Him in a special way, as, for instance, Psa. 2: and
Psa. 22: Among these we must place Psa. 41: Verse 9, as originally written by David,
referred to Ahithophel who betrayed him, and as Ahithophel had some connection with
Bathsheba there were some grounds, humanly speaking, for his action. The Lord Jesus
quotes this verse with reference to His own betrayal by Judas. It is important, however,
not only to observe what the Lord quoted, but what He omitted. He quoted the words:
"He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me." But He did not quote:
"Mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted" (John 13: 18). Judas was a devil, and
known as such by the Lord from the beginning (John 6: 70), and as such could never
have been the Lord's own familiar friend. Neither could it be said of Christ that He
"trusted in" Judas for it is written that "He knew what was in man" (John 2: 25).
We shall find some things in these Messianic Psalms that are true of both the Psalmist
and of Christ, but there are others that belong strictly to the Psalmist himself as the
fallible type. For example, the words of Psa. 41: 4, "I have sinned against Thee", could
never have been spoken by the Saviour. Even though He bore our sins, and was made sin
for us, it was ever true that He knew no sin, and that He did no sin.
The English reader of Psa. 41: 1 is most likely to read it as though it inculcated
kindness to the poor, almsgiving and charity. While we would not say anything against a
simple act of kindness, but would rather urge a more responsive spirit on the part of most
of us, the thought of kindness is not the meaning of this passage. The word translated
"consider" occurs 72 times in the O.T. and the following are the translations found in the
A.V.:--
"Behave wisely, guide wittingly, be instructed, wise, consider, consider wisely, deal
prudently, give skill, have good success, have understanding, instruct, make to
understand, make wise, prosper, teach, understand, expert, maschil, prudent, skilful,
understanding, wise, wisely, wisdom."
"Blessed is he that . . . . . the poor."--How shall we translate this word? What is its
special meaning?