Have Mercy On Us Lord, We Need You

“O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you.” Psalm 41:4

King David prayed a prayer that focused on God’s mercy and protection. He prayed it during a time of illness and betrayal. It highlights the blessing of those who show compassion to the poor.

It also underlines the consequences of wickedness and treachery. Due to the king’s struggles with illness and betrayal, we see him ultimately trusting in God’s healing and vindication.

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The psalm begins by emphasizing the blessing and mercy imparted to those who care for the poor and needy. David, the Psalmist, laid out the delivery of God’s promises in times of trouble.

Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
The Lord protects them and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies.
The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health. Psalm 41:1-3

Then he turned his prayer to his own needs. He needed the mercy of the Lord because of the sins that he had committed. Take note of how David prayed this prayer.

He began by exalting God because the Lord takes care of those who care for the needy. Then David humbly came to the Lord asking for His mercy and healing in his life.

David Prayed What Jesus Taught

Jesus taught us to pray using that same model. He said to pray like this: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.” In other words, exalt the name of the Lord.

After David exalted the Lord, he continued by declaring how God conducts business. The second thing Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer model included a similar thought. He said.

“May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” David prayed specifically about how the will of God operates, mentioning those who help the poor.

In the next few verses, David recounted to God how others had treated and spoken about him. They gossiped about him, imagined the worst about him, even his friends had turned against him.

They may sound like trivial things to some of you, but to others of you, maybe not. Perhaps you have faced or are experiencing challenges of a similar nature. Remember, God cares for you.

I’m not sure what disease David suffered from, but he had friends who liked to do self-diagnoses. Don’t you love people who tell you what you have without knowing anything about it?

He has some fatal disease,” they say. “He will never get out of that bed!” Psalm 41:8

David asked the Lord for mercy twice. We know why he asked the first time. He confessed to God that he had sinned. The second time, he wanted God’s mercy for a different reason.

Lord, have mercy on me. Make me well again, so I can pay them back! Psalm 41:10

What Did David Mean?

In my goal of writing a devotion for each of the Psalms, I sometimes run into difficulties. Like, what did David mean when he said, “I can pay them back.” Hmm, how do I explain that?

Let’s look at three explanations scholars have given as to what David meant by that statement.

Some scholars believe David wanted retribution. Therefore, he asked for the opportunity to see his enemies punished for their actions.
Others interpret it as a desire for God to restore order and justice, perhaps through legal means.
A third interpretation suggests David might have prayed for an opportunity for reconciliation with his enemies. Perhaps he wanted to show them kindness as a way of avenging their evil.

As I see it, David acknowledged his sin and expressed faith in the mercy of the Lord. It doesn’t matter what David meant, because Jesus changed how we should treat people.

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:43-45

As we read what David wrote in the Psalms, we know he faced many enemies. Even with those challenges, he constantly put his trust in God. He also knew who he was in the Lord.

I know you are pleased with me, for you have not let my enemies triumph over me. You have preserved my life because I am innocent you have brought me into your presence forever. Psalm 41:11-12

The Lord has Mercy on Us

We, too, must maintain our dependence on the Lord and understand that through His mercy, we belong to Him. Do you know who you are in the Lord? We belong to royalty and the priesthood.

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1:5-6
For you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Sometimes our lives resemble the ups and downs of a roller coaster. David’s did as well. But we must always bring ourselves, with the Lord’s help, back to total faith in God.

With the Mercy of the Lord, Put an Amen at the End of Each Day

Three Psalms written by three different people conclude with a phrase similar to the one David used. We must put the same exclamation point at the end of each day of our lives.

David said, Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen! Psalm 41:13
Solomon said, Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen! Psalm 72:19
Ethan the Ezrahite said, Praise the Lord forever! Amen and amen! Psalm 89:52
An unknown writer said, Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord! Psalm 106:48

Lord, we want our days highlighted with a “Praise the Lord” and “Amen.” But we know we can’t achieve that, Lord, without your mercy and grace upon us.

Check out these related posts on the mercy of the Lord through His Grace