Lutheran Devotional 7th July 2025, Monday Message
TOPIC: Trusted Counsel
Psalm 41:6-9 – And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad. All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me. They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.” Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
David, who wrote this psalm, valued the advice of his counselor Ahithophel, only to be betrayed by the evil counsel that Ahithophel gave to David’s rebellious son Absalom (see 2 Samuel 16:20-23). Perhaps David was thinking of this betrayal as he writes that a close friend “lifted his heel against me.” In that culture, showing the bottom of one’s foot or sandal to someone was considered an insult.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, in this psalm David also foretells the betrayal of his Descendant, the Son of David, Jesus our Lord. More than once Jesus’ enemies came to listen to His teaching. They uttered “empty words,” pretending to be interested as they sought evidence to condemn Him. Scripture describes the deception: “The Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Him in His words” (Matthew 22:15). Jesus’ opponents rejected Him as the Messiah and certainly imagined the worst for Him—His death.
Their imagined ending would become a reality when Jesus was handed over to His enemies to be crucified. At the Passover meal on the night before He died, Jesus identified His betrayer: “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with Me will betray Me” (Matthew 26:23b). Like His ancestor David, Jesus was betrayed by a friend, a disciple who had eaten bread with Him. Jesus’ own disciple Judas “lifted his heel” against His Lord and betrayed the Savior.
We have also engaged in betrayal. Through gossip or lies we seek to harm the reputations of others. We betray our Lord through our sins, by the wrong we do, and the good we leave undone. We are guilty of these things and more, yet in His grace and steadfast love, Jesus took up the cross for us. He suffered and died to atone for our sins of betrayal and for all our sins. The psalm foretells the hateful outcome that Jesus’ enemies hoped to see: “he will not rise again from where he lies.” It is the outcome that Satan wants for us, hoping to see death claim us forever. But the Lord had other plans for His Son and for us!
The psalm foretells Jesus’ resurrection: “But You have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in Your presence forever” (Psalm 41:12). The Son of God, in His innocence and integrity, was raised from death to reign in exalted glory. By God’s grace through faith in our crucified and risen Lord, our sins are forgiven. On the Last Day, we will rise from death to live in God’s presence forever. That is the promise of the Gospel, and it is wise counsel we can trust!
WE PRAY: Lord God, I trust the wise counsel of Your holy Word. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- Being talked badly about is never a good thing. How do you respond when people start talking badly about others?
- Can you name some instances when Jesus was maligned by others during His time on earth?
- What can we do to keep our conversations about others upright and healthy?
Today’s Readings: