Psalm 41:3
“The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:
thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.”
~ Psalm 41:3
It is the lot of God’s people to suffer the affliction of sickness. In His wise providence, we find that not all suffer the same afflictions, but all suffer from one degree to another. The testimony of Holy Scripture is plain. The Psalmist writes, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” (Psalm 34:19). Jehovah declares, “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10). Peter wrote, “The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:9).
Some sicknesses are chastisements and some are trials. However, all are according to the purpose of God and all accomplish His glory. Furthermore, we can be assured that the sickness will accomplish His purpose in us.
Sickness can be a sore trial and especially to those who are not right in heart or weak in faith. Surprisingly, many professed Christians are reduced to the “weak and beggarly elements” by sickness. Often that one will question their affliction thus, “Why has this happened to me?” On the other hand, they will submit, “I try to eat right. I work hard and exercise. I take vitamins, minerals, and herbs. I just don’t understand how this could happen to me?” Their attitude seems to be that these good physical habits have insulated them in some way from sickness. We certainly can abuse our body, and we ought to care well for our earthly tabernacle, but these things are no safeguard from suffering physical affliction.
That testimony is essentially the same that many worldlings give in their sickness. It is the same reply against the Sovereign Creator made by the unsaved. I ask you to consider – Is this a testimony that is glorifying of the grace of God, when you murmur thus as if you were above common suffering? When the disciples’ hearts were near failing them for fear, Christ asked, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). He marveled that they could think and act like the unsaved when faced with a sore trial. On the contrary, we magnify His grace when we are “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation” (Romans 12:12).
Some even question the love and mercy of God concerning sickness in His people. Perhaps some might wonder whether He has the power to do anything about it. Expel all such wicked thoughts at once and repent over the same! The report to Jesus concerning Lazarus was, “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick” (John 11:3). It did not diminish the Lord’s love that He tarried two more days before He went to Bethany. Nor was it a token of His displeasure that He did not immediately heal him.
Yes, we have a hard time comprehending His love, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (Psalm 139:6). Such is the love and mercy of God that gave to the rich man in his lifetime “good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things” (Luke 16:25). It is easy here to complain against God, but fight off the temptation. The rest of the verse gives us, “But now he [Lazarus] is comforted, and thou art tormented.” While we do not understand Lazarus’ affliction, it is clear it was a “light affliction, which is but for a moment,” and it certainly worked for him “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
We are assured that His love is present, even in our sickness, and that blessing is borne out in our text. There are precious blessings contained in these words that are now in our view. However, before we assay to appropriate the blessings, we must observe the condition that comes before.
This Psalm begins, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble” (Psalm 41:1). We may trace the word “him” through the first three verses and note that verses two and three are extended blessings on “he that considereth the poor.” This condition is multiplied throughout God’s Word. “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful” (Psalm 18:25), etc. The condition is this: Have you been merciful to others in their affliction? Have you done what you could to relieve them that suffered sickness? If you have, the blessing is here for you. Solomon taught, “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh” (Proverbs 11:17).
Let us now turn to the particular blessings of our passage. In the first place, David writes, “The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing.” The aforetime merciful one has been brought down to the bed of sickness, sorrow, and discomfort. Being confined to the bed of sickness is a particularly difficult trial for the mind and spirit of man. We are tempted to murmur or just give up. The burden may seem greater than we can bear to the point that we are driven to despair.
Ah! But here is the blessed thought, “The LORD will strengthen him.” The word translated ’strengthen’ signifies to support, to hold up. God will undertake to bear him up. Note here that God does not promise to remove him from the bed, but rather to sustain him “upon the bed of languishing.” Do not misunderstand the blessing promised. There is no heavenly panacea here. God is promising to supply grace and strength to the sick saint. He is going to make him able to bear his affliction. The Lord told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
In the last place, David writes of God, “Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.” Here we find love, mercy, compassion and unparalleled condescension. The language is picturesque of a nurse tending to the sick. It does not take long for the sick to grow weary on their bed. They toss to and fro and quickly come to discomfort. That nurse with tender hand will turn the bed or remake it to give them relief.
Here God promises to attend to the bed of the sick saint. With mercy, love, and tender hand God will make the bed of His afflicted child. No, in His wise providence, He does not lift him off, at least not yet, but He makes up the bed and “giveth His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2). I have known Bro. Bill James to say, “He will even fluff up your pillow for you.” Praise God that we have not an austere man for our attendant when we are sick. We have a kind, compassionate, benevolent Father. He pities us “as a father pitieth his children” (Psalm 103:13).
Are you sick at this very hour? Are you tempted to murmur and complain? Have you sought to appropriate this blessing? Are you praying that the purpose of the Father will be accomplished in you? May God make our beds giving us rest and comfort, and may we rejoice to know that He is near.
1 Timothy 5:24
“Some men’s sins are open beforehand,
going before to judgment;
and some men they follow after.”
~ 1 Timothy 5:24
“Some men’s sins are open beforehand,” or, they are clearly seen and known. We witness the acts of some men and there is no question that they are sins. It follows then that by their open wickedness, we know the perpetrators to be wicked. Christ said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). I could name men such as Adolph Hitler or Charles Manson and immediately we know these to be profligate men. Their sins have been open beforehand.
It is also true that “some men they follow after,” referring to their sins. Some men are open and known sinners while others sin more secretly. Their sins “follow after,” or are not clearly seen and known, at least for now. They “devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds” (Micah 2:1). They appear to the world to be upright and possess a good heart. Sometimes these ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing are exposed in this life, usually to the surprise of not a few that knew them. Sometimes, however, they are not exposed in this life, but, either way, they will not escape the judgment of God.
The central thought in this verse is that both classes are headed to judgment and neither shall escape punishment. It will not matter that mother and father were fooled, nor even husband, wife, pastor, congregation, or the grocer at the corner market. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest” (1 Corinthians 3:13) when they stand before the Righteous Judge of all the earth.
However, let us now leave the broad strokes and train our eyes to trace the fine lines of this passage. Let us set aside all prejudice and appropriate this verse to ourselves, having the courage to hide it in our heart that we might not sin against God.
Firstly, just as we may classify men as open sinners or deceptive hypocrites, we may assess our own sins the same way. Some sins and sinful tendencies are “open beforehand” and easily identified. In these things, it is not difficult to be very pious. It is a small matter to be faithful to the assembly, to tithe on the first day of the week, to dress modestly, to maintain clean speech, etc. It is usually not a hard thing to avoid the abuse of alcohol and social drinking, gambling, cussing, the company of openly profane persons, etc.
All of the above items are minimal and you may be very strict in them and have a good report of many. However, know this: The Faithful and True Witness says, “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:23). “And the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:13). If these works are merely a facade of piety with you, they will not be able to stand the trial of fire. You ask, “Should I not then be zealous in good works?” You should! You must! It is expected that the branch will bring forth fruit (John 15:8). However, our works must flow from a pure and humble heart with the glory of God as their designed end in order to be truly good works.
Secondly, there are personal sins that “follow after.” They are not clearly seen by others. They will escape our own eyes if our eyes are dim and drowsy. These are the sins we harbor in our hearts. They are awful, dreadful evils that we feed in secret. These are the sins that we must labor to root out of our heart and guard against their reentry. However, far too many who excel in outward piety are content to let them “follow after.”
It is high time for us to “awake to righteousness, and sin not” (1 Corinthians 15:34). We must be done with the easy generalities and begin to get precise and deal honestly, abruptly, and decidedly with sin. This is serious business. We are not just playing games here. Paul urged the Corinthians, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Though you look well outwardly, do you have “eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin” (2 Peter 2:14)? Do you indulge in the graphic images of television and then seek after more explicit sights on the internet or elsewhere? Do you expect your wife and daughters to dress modestly and then crane your neck to look at every loose woman that comes by dressed provocatively?
Are you greedy of gain and stingy to give? Does it pain you to give to the church or a brother in need? Do you entertain thoughts of an adulterous rendezvous? Do you harbor a secret rebellion in your heart against your husband? Are you zealous in service in order to feed your pride? Do you wished to be noticed by men when you perform some work? There are untold evils that lurk in our hearts, but do not be deceived: “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad” (Luke 8:17). It is no mystery why David exclaimed, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults” (Psalm 19:12).
These verses should move every child of God to a serious self-examination. We must lay our sinful selves bare before the thrice Holy God and plead with the Psalmist: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). The Psalmist besought God to search and try his heart. He wanted God to define the wickedness found there. This is where we have failed. We have not sought righteous judgment; we have applied the wrong measurement. We are content to let our sins “follow after” because we are just as good as everyone else is. In this we are not wise (2 Corinthians 10:12).
Finally, our sins, open and secret, are just like the sinners in our text. They are both going to the judgment. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). All things will be laid open and receive “a just recompence of reward” on that day (Hebrews 2:2). There will be no second chances only bitter regrets. May God give us grace to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1). Amen.
Psalm 103:1
“Bless the LORD, O my soul:
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.”
~ Psalms 103:1
The one hundred and third Psalm is a blessed catalog of the mercies of God to His people. He “healeth all thy diseases” and “redeemeth thy life from destruction.” What wondrous mercy, that “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10)! The Psalmist has ascended to the heights of praise in extolling the mercy of God that is “so great … toward them that fear Him.”
However, before he entered into the inner court of worship, David did some real heart work in order to stir himself up to bless God. That is what we have in our text, David stirring himself up and preparing his heart to worship God. Let us turn our thoughts to the beginning of this magnificent Psalm and learn from David’s example.
In the first place, David rouses his soul, saying, “Bless the LORD, O my soul.” It seems strange to hear one speaking of blessing God. We surely understand God blessing man but the converse is rarely heard. What does it mean to bless the Lord? The Hebrew word barak is here translated ‘bless.’ The word means literally to kneel. When God is the subject, it means to kneel to bless God as an act of adoration. To bless God is to worship Him and the Psalmist is preparing himself for that very purpose.
The very fact that David is endeavoring so to stir himself up to this blessed occupation teaches us that man is not naturally in the proper frame of mind and disposition of heart to worship God. Man cannot just enter casually and carelessly upon this business. It takes some real work to prepare oneself for worship. If this were more widely known and practiced, perhaps our worship services would not be so dull and drowsy.
Secondly, let us take notice of some of the particulars of the Psalmist’s work. David does not wish to worship God perfunctorily. He seeks to rouse his very soul. “Bless the LORD, O my soul,” yea, and more than that, he says, “And all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.” One as noble and august as God surely deserves the energies of the inmost soul. David is not content until he has marshaled all his faculties to concentrate on this one purpose.
It will not do for David to draw nigh merely with his lips. He seeks to worship God with all of his being. That was the problem with many in Christ’s day. Jesus said of them, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8). Their religion appeared pious and their worship serious, but the Lord reproved them as token worshippers and not true worshippers. They were much like Israel in Hosea’s day, whom the prophet rebuked declaring, “Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty” (Hosea 10:2).
The problem with token worshippers is that they are not all in the business of worshipping God. Their hearts are divided, half with God and half with self, a part in the church and a part in the world. They spend more time fixing their hair than fixing their heart in preparation to meet God. They spend more time putting on their clothes than putting off the old man. Though I must confess, some need to spend more time putting their clothes on, for it seems that they are in such a hurry to get to church that they neglect to put on the rest of their clothes and come scantily clad. Others take great delight in putting on a new dress or new suit, or some other piece of the latest trendy garb, to come to church and be fashionable, when it were better that they would come to church to meet God and not Sis. Vanity-Fair who will complement them on their new clothes.
The Lord’s house is the place where His “honour dwelleth” (Psalm 26:8). The Lord is in the very midst of the assembly (Matthew 18:20). However, in this Laodicean age in the church, Christ seems to be the last thing on most people’s minds. They are there physically but their minds are on their business of the weekdays, out in their gardens, on the riverbank fishing, on the crock-pot at home, even at the ballgame, and endless other places. The lament of the prophet is applicable today. Isaiah said, “And there is none … that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee” (Isaiah 64:7). How few today really seek to awaken themselves to the worship and service of God. O to God, that men would stir themselves up to take hold of God, that men would rouse themselves and shake off indifferent slumber to truly praise and worship God!
Finally, David said, “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.” He knew that he needed to prepare himself for such a great work as praising God. He did not take it lightly. Christian, do you take lightly the worship of God? We need our hearts prepared (Job 11:13) and strengthened (Psalm 27:14) in order to worship Him acceptably. Let us think on these things, give ourselves wholly to them, and then let us stir ourselves up to praise and worship Him whose mercy “is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him” (Psalm 103:17).
