We’re in 2 Chronicles in our reading program, but so far it’s repeating stories we’ve already looked at, for example, Solomon’s asking for wisdom. So we finish out Book 1 of Psalms. You may know that Psalms is divided into five books: 1 – 41, 42 – 72, 73 – 89, 90 – 106, and 107 – 150. Book 1 seems to end with reflections on tough times. We looked at Psalms 38 and 39 in that light. Psalm 40, even though it has elements of deliverance and praise, contains challenges, also:

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!…As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! (Psalm 40.13, 14, 17, ESV)

The prayer for deliverance continues into Psalm 41 when King David feels like he’s on his deathbed:

But my enemies say, “May he soon die and be forgotten!” They act so friendly when they come to visit me while I am sick; but all the time they hate me and are glad that I am lying there upon my bed of pain. And when they leave, they laugh and mock. They whisper together about what they will do when I am dead. “It’s fatal, whatever it is,” they say. “He’ll never get out of that bed!” (Psalm 41.5 – 8, TLB)

The problem is, even if we don’t have enemies, there are still people on their deathbed: we have two close friends that may pass before this blog posts. Both are serious Christ followers. (Update: as expected, both have passed, one on Thursday, September 26, and the other in the wee hours Saturday morning, September 28. Detail to follow.)

Psalm 41 (and Psalms, Book 1) ends with the only perspective we can have:

Bless the Lord, the God of Israel, who exists from everlasting ages past—and on into everlasting eternity ahead. Amen and amen! (Psalm 41.13, TLB)

We are temporary, but “the Lord, the God of Israel, exists from everlasting ages past – and on into everlasting eternity ahead.”

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed. Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations. (Isaiah 51.6 – 8, ESV)