Timeless Biblical Truth.
Because God delights in those who show mercy to those in need, He will deliver them in their time of trouble.
- Instruction: The LORD delivers those believers who help others in their time of need (1-3).
- The LORD delivers those who help the weak (1).
- The LORD protects these believers from their enemies and restores them to health (2-3).
- Encouragement: These believers will have a testimony that will encourage others to pray when they also suffer the malice of others (4-10).
- Prayer: The suffering believer’s prayer for healing may require a confession of sin against God (4).
- Lament: The news of the suffering of the believer may encourage others to exalt in their malicious treachery (5-9).
- Prayer: The suffering believer’s prayer for healing will seek to right the wrongs inflicted on the sufferer (10).
- Thanksgiving: Believers will offer thanksgiving for the LORD’S deliverance and blessing (11-12).
Questions for Second Milers
- From your knowledge of David’s life (recorded in First and Second Samuel and in some of the Psalms) what are some of the painful problems that faced David? How does he feel physically? Mentally? Spiritually?
- What are his enemies’ desires for him (cf. a possible experience for this psalm in 2 Samuel 15-16)?
- Who upholds David? Why (cf. verses 11-12 to the principles of verses 1-3)?
- Have you ever experienced such deceit, gossip, and betrayal? How have you held up?
- How is the doxology of verse 13 (that marks the end of Book One: Psalms 1-41) appropriate to this psalm?
- Give your own short title to this psalm.
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!


