Psalms

This Psalm is probably written about the Absalom rebellion and that was happening in David's life at that time.  The Psalm shows a correlation of how we are treated with how we treat others.  David is sick and in distress.  In his time of trouble he is pleading his case before the Lord.  But has David acted with the same mercy and concern as he is asking for from the Lord?

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ Blessed is he who considers the poor;
         The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
 ² The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive,
         And he will be blessed on the earth;
         You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
 ³ The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness;
         You will sustain him on his sickbed.
The poor are the people whose life situation requires the help of others to get by.  This could be blind, crippled, financially poor, etc.  This brings to mind Matthew 25:31-40 where Jesus said to those who took care of the poor, "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."   The man who considers the poor has identified himself as one of the Lords.  The Lord will then preserve him and he'll be blessed.  He won't be at the mercy of his enemies or the mercy of any illness.  God will sustain him. 

         
 ⁴ I said, "LORD, be merciful to me;
         Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You."
 ⁵ My enemies speak evil of me:
         "When will he die, and his name perish?"
 ⁶ And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies;
         His heart gathers iniquity to itself;
         When he goes out, he tells it.
David cried out for mercy from the Lord and repented of his sins.  On his sickbed, his enemies were waiting for him to die.  They were plotting rebellion and treason behind his back.  Ahithophel was one of these men.  This man was one of David's counselor's until David committed adultery with his granddaughter, Bathsheba.  Ahithophel became loyal to Absalom but he remained a false friend to David.  David saw through Ahiothophel and knew that he was being deceitful. 

        
 ⁷ All who hate me whisper together against me;
         Against me they devise my hurt.
 ⁸ "An evil disease," they say, "clings to him.
         And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more."
 ⁹ Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
         Who ate my bread,
         Has lifted up his heel against me.
Imagine what it must have been like to have his familiar and trusted friend turn against him.  This man used to sit at David's table and eat and talk about life and offer counsel.  Now, Ahithophel was just one of those who plotted and whispered against David.  They hoped the illness he had would bring him to death.  The phrase 'lift up his heel against me' is the picture of a deceptive and underhanded attack.

        
 ¹⁰ But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
         That I may repay them.
 ¹¹ By this I know that You are well pleased with me,
         Because my enemy does not triumph over me.
 ¹² As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
         And set me before Your face forever.
The fact that these enemies didn't triumph over David was a sign of God's hand of protection on his life.  There was no good reason for this rebellion not to have brought him to his death.  But now, David asked God to raise him up against these men to repay them.  Kindness and mercy to the poor that are deserving; but vengeance to the enemies who disrespect God and the man of God.  These men were plotting treason against God's anointed king. 

David showed mercy and received mercy.  He offered grace and was offered grace. 

         
 ¹³ Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
         From everlasting to everlasting!
         Amen and Amen.