Psalm 41:3- “The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.”
Even when David was ill, he knew and relied on God’s grace and compassion. David felt he fell ill because he had broken God’s rules – possibly when he sent Uriah to die so that he might marry Uriah’s wife. He also felt that God looked after him and strengthened him during this time only because of his prior obedience as per the old covenant, to look after the poor. Helping the poor was not the only thing that made one godly, but it was pretty significant. David described the blessings that befell these righteous people.
What does it mean in today’s context? What does it imply to us today? The Lord gives His favour of grace and compassion to the person who considers the poor. The word ‘poor’ doesn’t necessarily indicate its direct meaning of ‘economic poverty’ but has a broader sense. They could include those who are weak or helpless. The mostly avoided and repeatedly scorned, such as: poor in substance, weak in bodily strength, hated because of their reputation, and dejected in spirit. They could be those poor in love and hope and the knowledge of God.
When we consider the poor, we show that we trust God to give from our resources to help. It illustrates that we give for the good of others and not to make ourselves feel good. It shows that we are kind, with a generous heart, who want to show God’s agape love to those in need. It depicts help to those who most likely will not help in return.
By considering the poor, we see others are people with whom we must build relationships as God intended for us. We think of others before ourselves as God intended for us to serve others.
Our God always has His eye over us. He guards us and keeps us – His children – in the palms of His hands.
And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.”(Exodus 15:26)
