Psalm 41, a psalm of David, is a difficult psalm to read–not because of long words or challenging names, but because of its content. David is crying out to God “in the day of trouble.” Throughout the psalm David uses words like enemies, illness, sickbed, malice, and hate. Notice especially Psalm 41:9:
Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
There are no easy answers in Psalm 41; no simple tips or clever bullet points. But there is perspective.
But you, O LORD, be gracious to me,
and raise me up …
by this I know that you delight in me… (Psa 41:10-11)
A thousand years after David wrote Psalm 41, Jesus quoted it and made an incredible claim.
“But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.'” (John 13:18-19)
Betrayed by one of his own–a close friend–Jesus anchored himself to the delight of his Father. If the same Father delights in us, what have we to fear?
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psa 118:6)
That is delight that puts even the pain of betrayal into perspective.