Psalm Devotional
From Passion to Promise
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” These words are from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The plot of Hamlet revolves around the murder of the king of Denmark. The death of King Hamlet leaves Denmark in disarray and at risk of foreign invasion.
There is nothing more destabilizing to a monarchy than the death of the king. In Psalm 41, we find David on his deathbed and Israel on the verge of disarray.
The middle of this psalm actually serves as its chronological beginning. In these verses, David is speaking directly to God, addressing Him in the second person. In verses 4-9, David pours out his soul to God, describing in detail the nature of his suffering.
The first aspect of David’s suffering is his physical illness. He asks God to heal him (v. 4) of his “vile disease” (v. 8). In addition to his physical illness, part of David’s passion is the fact that his enemies, both internally and externally, are plotting against him (vv. 5-8). Those within the court of Israel are conspiring against him, and the external enemies of Israel view this as an opportunity to strike against his kingdom. However, it is the third aspect of his passion that is most painful to him. In verse 9, David notes that a “close friend” has turned against him. David, like Julius Caesar, has his Marcus Brutus.
