Following yesterday’s reflection on Judas, we end this week going back to the Psalm which Jesus quotes:
When I was a teenager my uncle taught me how to shake hands. He’s a businessman and he said to me: ‘You’ve got to grip tight, Matt, so that people know you’re strong.’ His handshake used to stop the blood flow to my hand, so this is what I learned to do; as I’ve got older, I’ve eased the grip somewhat, as handshaking is meant to be a pleasant and sociable experience!
As I look back, what interests me is this idea of the importance of the projection of strength. Anything less is a sign of weakness, the suggestion that you’re the sort of person that could be taken advantage of – so you offer a vice-like grip as both a greeting and, dare I say it, a warning?
The same could be said of many people’s attitudes towards those who are less fortunate in life. Much as we like to espouse care for the weak in principle, in practice many fear that showing care will lead them to be taken advantage of, that they’ll get a reputation for being a ‘soft touch’. King David is having none of it, as he says right at the beginning of today’s psalm: (vv1-3) ‘Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in time of trouble. The Lord protects them and preserves them… and restores them from their bed of illness.’
The latter line suggests we may still be addressing the consequences of David’s affliction in psalms 38-40 – but either way, David’s trust in the Lord follows this line of reasoning: if we care for the weak, then, when we’re weak ourselves, the Lord will care for us. Perhaps others will care, too – but even if there are those who wish to see us come to harm, we can rely on God to do for us as we have done for others.
In the psalm, David testifies at the end that this has, indeed, been the case: (vv11-12) ‘My enemy does not triumph over me. Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence for ever.’ But David’s trust has certainly been tested. He has one particular person in mind, whom he considers has betrayed him: (v9) ‘Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.’
This is another psalm which is known for one verse – this last one, in fact, as it echoes Jesus’ experience with Judas – the one who shares his bread with Jesus (Mark 14:20) is the one who betrays him (Mark 14:10). But its deeper context is an encouragement for all of us to keep showing the care and compassion of Christ to those who need it – because when we need it, the Lord will give the same to us. Perhaps that is a word for some of you today, or for someone you know. Claim its truth, and may that cause you to lift your spirit in prayer (v10), and your heart in praise (v13).