Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Psalms

Psalms 
Day 
Day 356

Psalm 41:4a "LORD, be merciful to me"

Day 356 – Psalm 41

“LORD, be merciful to me” Psalm 41:4a

PREVENTING PRESUMPTION

Presumption is a deadly spiritual problem. It is so easy to become presumptuous over time. Complacency can set in easily and we presume that God is bound to keep His promises regardless (of our sinfulness and unworthiness)!

PLEADING MERCY

David did not take the promises of the Lord for granted. Indeed, he could not! The following text reveals an important insight.

“I said, ‘LORD, be merciful to me:
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
Psalm 41:4

1. “LORD”

a) There was a correct consciousness of who God is.
b) He may have given precious and profound promises, but He is still LORD.
c) David’s knowledge and experience of God taught him deep lessons about approaching God and praying to Him.
i) God was Creator (Psalm 19).
ii) He was King (Psalm 24).
iii) He must therefore be approached most humbly.

2. “Be merciful to me”

a) What is the appropriate approach when one comes to God in prayer?
b) David knew that he must plead for “mercy”!

3. “Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You”

a) The promises of God could be vitiated because of sin in our life
b) David knew that where there was un-confessed sin in his heart God was certainly not obligated to bless him.
c) He knew that blessings from God were conditional and where sin is not confessed and dealt with, the Divine blessings would not be fulfilled.