Psalm 41
Part 1 of 3
(Verses 1-3)
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1     Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.
2     The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.
3     The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
This Psalm opens with a wonderful statement of blessing.  Another possible rendering for “blessed is he…” is “How fortunate is the person…”.  Every time you see that phrase think of that alternate translation: “How fortunate is the
person…”
Taken together, one thing these three verses remind us Those Who Give Mercy Will Receive Mercy.
·         David knew his heart and he was aware that he had no right to ask for mercy from the Lord if he himself had not shown mercy to others.
·         We know from David’s life that he had shown mercy to King Saul, to Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth, and to the needy in the land.[1]
·        Compare the statement in the first part of verse 1 to the statements in the second part of verse 1 through verse 3.
·        When we give to those in need, we receive in our time of need. 
·        Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)
o   He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.
·        Jesus said “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
·        This, of course, is not meant to be a binding promise of the Lord that every time you show mercy you will receive merciful blessings from God BUT as we are being conformed to the image of Christ, we should be in the process of becoming more merciful.  Our blessing, ultimately is in knowing HIM and leading others to HIM!

[1]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Worshipful, 1st ed. (Colorado Springs, Colo.: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004), 156.