Written by Katie Monday, 12 October 2009 13:14

I have the opportunity to attend a Bible Institute class at my church, and this semester we're in the Messianic Psalms. It's pretty amazing. :) I'm going to use one of the Psalms we went through that I really liked.

Psalm 41 was written by King David about his close friend and counselor, Ahithophel.

Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba. He wasn't all that happy about David sending Bathsheba's husband Uriah into the front lines of battle to be killed, and David taking Bathsheba as his wife. In fact, he was so upset about it, that when Absalom (David's son) rebelled against him, Ahithophel joined him in his rebellion. David was crushed by his betrayal, and he wrote Psalm 41 because of it. Verse 9 says:

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

This verse is a Messianic verse, meaning it refers to another similar verse in the New Testament about Christ's death. A sort of prophetic thing. The verse it refers to is John 13:18-

"I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, he that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against Me."

Jesus was speaking of Judas here. His former friend became His betrayer. But then, we all are Judases, aren't we? God blesses us everyday- with life, with grace, with His friendship, with everything. He showers us with His goodness, and while we may not outwardly betray Him with things like how we talk, where we go, and who we hang around, we constantly "lift up our heel against Him" inwardly. How do we do this?

♥ By unsteadiness in our walk.

♥ By having carnal, worldly thoughts in our hearts and minds.

♥ By wearying of converse with God.

♥ By neglecting to spend time with Him.

♥ By not considering Him before everything we do or say.

♥ By your heart losing the esteem it once had for Christ,

♥ And by losing your wonder of the Cross.

I know I'm guilty of all of these, especially the last one. He did so much for us!! He did the greatest thing that can be done for a friend- He gave His life. He gave it to those who He couldn't even call friend. He was tortured. And we so often just forget the awesomeness of His love and the Cross. We betray Him.

Let's not forget. Don't take it lightly. Thank Him every single day for what He did, and share it. Don't lose your wonder of the Cross.

"May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross."

-Bethany Dillion and Matt Hammitt

 

(I have to give Matthew Henry and my pastor credit for some of this. ;)

---