The author of Psalm 25 is David. This psalm is a prayer for guidance as well as defense and pardon. As we trust in God, he grants these same requests for us.
"To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me." ~ Psalm 25:1-2
There are seventy-two psalms - almost half the book - that speak about enemies. Enemies are those that oppose not only you, but also God's way of living. We can view temptations as our enemies and Satan as our greatest enemy. David asked God to keep his enemies from overcoming him because they opposed what God stood for. If his enemies succeeded, David feared that many would think that living for God was futile. David did not question his own faith - he knew that God would triumph. But he didn't want his enemies' success to be an obstacle to the faith of others.
"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;" ~ Psalm 25:4
David expressed his desire for guidance. How do we receive God's guidance? The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God's primary guidance system is in his Word, the Bible. We may be tempted to demand answers from God, but David asked for direction. When we are willing to seek God, learn from his Word, and obey his commands, then we receive his specific guidance.
"Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great." ~ Psalm 25:8-11
We are bombarded today with relentless appeals to be in various directions. Television advertising alone places hundreds of options before us, in addition to appeals made by political parties, cults, false religions and dozens of other groups. Numerous organizations, including Christian organizations, seek to motivate us to support a cause. Add to that the dozens of decisions we must make concerning our job, our family, our money, our society; we become desperate for someone to show us the right way. If you find yourself pulled in several directions, remember that God teaches the humble his way.
"Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him." ~ Psalm 25:12
To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who he is: holy, almighty, righteous, pure,
all-knowing, all powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at his feet in humble respect. Only then will he show us how to choose his way.
"The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them."
~ Psalm 25:14
The Lord confides in those who fear him. God offers intimate and lasting friendship to those who revere him, who hold him in highest honor. What relationship could ever compare with having the Lord of all creation for a friend? Your everlasting friendship with God will grow as you revere him.
"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish." ~ Psalm 25:16-17
Do life's problems always seem to go from bad to worse? God is the only one who can reverse this downward spiral. He can take our problems and turn them into glorious victories. There is no necessary requirement - we, like David, must cry out, "Turn to me and be gracious to me." When you are willing to do that, God can turn the worst into something wonderful. The next step is yours - God has already made his offer.
"May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you." ~ Psalm 25:21
If ever we needed two powerful forces to preserve us along life's way, they are integrity and uprightness. The psalmist asks for these to protect him step by step. Uprightness makes us learn God's requirements and strive to fulfill them. Integrity - being what we say we are - keeps us from claiming to be upright while living as if we do not know God. Uprightness says, "This is the Shepherd's way," and integrity says, "I will walk consistently in it."
Psalm 25 / New International Version
ReplyDelete1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
2 in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
4 Show me your ways, O Lord,
teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, O Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, is the man who fears the LORD?
He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
13 He will spend his days in prosperity,
and his descendants will inherit the land.
14 The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!