Drawing God’s attention
One thing that draws God’s attention is when we consider and help those going through the hardships of times. Some people might feel forgotten and abandoned as if no one is paying attention to them and their pains but God is. The Psalmist said that hears the needy and they are not forgotten (Ps69:33, 9:16). While we are focusing on our own needs and wants, God is looking back at those in need. Some even get lost paying too much attention to themselves and forget that some struggle more than they do. But because the needy are at the cornerstone of God’s heart (Is41:17), when one decides to look back and look at the needy draws his undivided attention. The scriptures call him blessed he who regards the needy. Now, the Greek word for blessed is Makarios this describes a believer being in an enviable position for receiving God’s favor. The rewards for doing the things that are at the heart of God are fulfilling.
Psalms 41:1-4
Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
2 The Lord protects and preserves them—
they are counted among the blessed in the land—
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness.
4 I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord;
heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
We all want some deliverance from something at any point in our lives. Turning away from our wants and needs and putting it on someone who is at want will bring deliverance when we need it. The Psalmist said that in those times of trouble, God delivers us. When we get accustomed to seeing God’s deliverance in our lives we seek it and nothing will deter us from seeing it. For instance the occasion of the three Hebrews who were thrown into the fiery furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who when they were threatened to bow down and worship another god refused. Their expectation for God’s deliverance was sure (Da3:17-18). Both weak and needy and those who attend to them are considered blessed and preserved. The Psalmist said that God sustains his blessed ones when they are in their sick bed. We are assured that we will get to that sick bed, but restoration is promised (Ps103:3). Now there are physical and spiritual illnesses and one can be in their sickbed for either of them. David’s illness in Psalms 41 was a spiritual one, he had sinned against God. He knew that the only way that he could be healed from his illness was through repentance. Spiritual illness if they are not dealt with will turn out to be physical. The disciples asked Jesus if this man who they saw sick illness was because he or his parents had sinned, and he told them that it was not a sin-related illness (Jh9:2-3). This man’s illness was for God to be glorified. There were many people Jesus healed from their sickbeds and some of them told them to sin no more.
Psalms 69:33
The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
Psalms 9:16
The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands..
Isaiah 41:17
“The poor and needy search for water,
but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Daniel 3:17-18
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver usa] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Psalms 103:3
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
John 9:2-3
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.