Psalm 25

Of David

1 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 

3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

5 Lead me in thy truth and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.

8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore, will he teach sinners in the way.

9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity; for it is great.

12 What man is he that fears the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

15 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider my enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

20 O keep my soul and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. (KJV)

When I was in the third grade, I had a teacher who share his belief about God with the entire class.  He told us we needed to grow up and take control of our life and leave the notion that we are special before God behind.  God gave us a brain and we should rely on thinking abilities to make our decisions since the notion of a personal God was a myth.  However, my fourth-grade teacher believed in a personal God in which you could have a personal relationship with, and her life reflected that relationship.  As I look back to these two teachers, I realize that one of the first steps in understanding the book of Psalms is knowing that the loving God of the universe has not only reached out to mankind; but he has reached out to each individual to have this personal relationship that was reflected in Mrs. Wilson’s life.  So, as we study this psalm we need to focus on David’s actions and the request that he is requesting from his personal Lord.

                                         Actions:

• I lift up my soul.
• I trust in God.
• I desire honor not shame.
• I desire victory over my enemies.
• I hope in the Lord.
• I desire to be a student of the Lord’s ways.
• I desire to be guided into truth by the Lord.
• I desire redemption from my rebellious ways.
• I desire to keep our ways.
• I take refuge in the Lord.

We can also see some of God’s attributes in this psalm:

• God honors those who hope in him.
• The Lord has great mercy and love.
• The Lord is good and upright.
• The Lord guides and instruct the humble
• All the Lord’s ways are loving and faithful for those who keeps the demand of his covenant.
• The Lord confides in those who fear him.
• The Lord makes known his covenant to those who know him.
• Only the Lord can release me from the snares of the wicked.

Now the real focus of this psalm “David’s request before the Lord”

• Do not let me be put to shame.
• Do not let my enemies’ triumph over me.
• Show me your ways.
• Teach me your paths.
• Guide me in your truth and teach me.
• Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways.
• Forgive me my iniquities.
• Release me from the snares of the wicked.
• Lord turns to me and be gracious to me.
• Free me from the anguish of my troubles
• Guard my life and rescue me.
• May your integrity and uprightness protect me, since my hope is in you.
• Redeem Israel (USA) from all their troubles.

Is your God a God that just lives way up there and looks down at the world and treats each of us as if we were but ants on an anthill; or is your God a God that knows your name and knows the count of every hair on your head?

As I observe the events around me, I must realize that all things are in the Lord’s hands.  Even when the rulers of this earth do not realize that the Lord is the one in charge. We can choose to be like the seven thousand who have not bowed down to the gods of this world, but who remain faithful to God (I Kings 19:18).  So, as I read Psalms twenty-one through twenty-five today, I will choose to make my God a personal God and follow after Mrs. Wilson’s example instead of the example of my third-grade teacher who by the way his name I have long forgotten.