May 20

1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.

5 Mine enemies speak evil of me. When shall he die, and his name perish?

6 And if he come to see me, be speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

7 All that have me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he heth he shall rise up no more.

9 Yes, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

12 And as for me, thou upholden: use in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

The lesson for to-day describes the mercies which are promised to such as consider the poor: 1. Deliverance in trouble. Not that he shall have no trouble; but he shall be preserved in it. 2. Preservation of life. "It is worthy of remark that benevolent persons, who 'consider the poor,' and especially the sick poor; who search cellars, garrets, back lanes, and such abodes of misery, to find them out (even in the places where contagion keeps its seat), very seldom fall a prey to their own benevolence.

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The Lord, in an especial manner, keeps them alive, and preserves them; while many, who endeavor to keep far from the contagion, are assailed by it and fall victims to it. God loves the merciful man."—Adam Clarke. 3. Prosperity promised. "His cruse of oil shall not be dried up, because he fed the poor prophet." 4. A heavenly bed-making. "Surely that bed must needs be soft which God will make."—T. Watson. Note, it is all his bed. "Pillow, bolster, head, feet, sides, all his bed. Surely that God who made him knows so well his measure and temper as to make his bed to please him."—Thomas Fuller.

There is another lesson in this Psalm which must not be overlooked. "Such as receive a vile return for long kindness to others may read this song with much comfort, for they will see that it is, alas, too common for the best of men to be rewarded for their holy charity with cruelty and scorn; and when they have been humbled by falling into sin advantage has been taken of their low estate, their good deeds have been forgotten, and the vilest spite has been vented upon them."—C. H. Spurgeon.

Closet Promise.—When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.—Isa. xli. 17.

Let us never suppose that God cares only for the soul, and not also for the body; that the temporal needs of His redeemed people are a matter of indifference to Him; that the maintenance of a laboring-man can be beneath His notice who sent His own Son to work as a carpenter; or that a little child's happiness is uncared for by that Eternal Father who has looked on this Christ as a helpless infant slumbering in a human mother's arms. God cares for everything that can affect His people.—Rev. A. W. Thorold.