Psalms 41:1-13: a reflection

1Blessed is he who considers the poor. The LORD will deliver him in the day of evil. 2The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive. He shall be blessed on the earth, and he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies. 3The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore him from his bed of illness. 4I said, “LORD, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you.” 5My enemies speak evil against me: “When will he die, and his name perish?” 6If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it. 7All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me. 8“An evil disease”, they say, “has afflicted him. Now that he lies he shall rise up no more.” 9Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me. 10But you, LORD, have mercy on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them. 11By this I know that you delight in me, because my enemy doesn’t triumph over me. 12As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 13Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting! Amen and amen.

This psalm opens with a beatitude that might surprise us: Blessed is he who considers the poor. The LORD will deliver him in the day of evil. The one who considers the poor, who takes thought for the weak and needy, who does not overlook them but attends to their need, is called blessed; and God promises to care for such a one in turn, delivering, preserving, sustaining him in his own day of trouble. Care for the poor is met with God's care for the carer.

Notice the blessing pronounced on the one who considers the poor. To consider the poor is more than a passing glance; it is to take thought for them, to attend to their need, to let them weigh on one's heart and prompt one's action. And on the one who does this, God pronounces blessing: he will deliver, preserve, and sustain him in his own day of trouble. God notices and rewards care for the poor; the one who considers the needy is himself considered by God, cared for as he has cared for others. Care for the weak is not overlooked by God.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can overlook the poor and needy, passing them by without a thought. It is easy to be so occupied with our own concerns that we do not consider the poor, do not take thought for the weak and needy around us; but the psalm calls blessed the one who does consider them. Do not overlook the poor and needy, passing them by without thought; consider them, take thought for their need, let it weigh on your heart and move you to act, as the psalm commends. God pronounces blessing on the one who considers the poor, and promises to care for such a one in turn; take thought for the weak and needy around you, attending to their need rather than overlooking them, and know that the God who blesses those who consider the poor sees and cares for those who care for others, as this psalm promises.

Lord, this psalm opens with a beatitude that might surprise me: blessed is he who considers the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of evil. The one who considers the poor, who takes thought for the weak and needy, is called blessed; and you promise to care for such a one in turn, delivering and sustaining him in his own day of trouble. Care for the poor is met with your care for the carer. Show me the blessing pronounced on the one who considers the poor. To consider the poor is more than a passing glance; it is to take thought for them, to attend to their need, to let them weigh on one's heart and prompt one's action. And on the one who does this, you pronounce blessing. You notice and reward care for the poor; the one who considers the needy is himself considered by you. Take that to my heart, for I can overlook the poor and needy, passing them by without a thought. It is easy to be so occupied with my own concerns that I do not consider the poor, do not take thought for the weak and needy around me; but the psalm calls blessed the one who does. Keep me from overlooking the poor and needy, passing them by without thought; help me consider them, take thought for their need, let it weigh on my heart and move me to act. Help me take thought for the weak and needy around me, Lord, attending to their need rather than overlooking them, knowing that you see and care for those who care for others.