Psalm 25

[Al Moak]

Psalm 25

Every one of God's people needs to start each day with an attitude of devotion to Him and to His Word, with a prayer for uprightness and an attitude that pleases Him.  Every one of His people needs to pray for righteousness of life for each and every moment of the coming day.  This psalm is that prayer.  Each one who comes to the temple at the beginning of the day is led by this psalm in a prayer for devotion to Jehovah.

So they sing, "To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me.  Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause."  To be "ashamed" would be to find, too late, that the Lord wasn't there, that there was no real relationship to Him.  So in this psalm the worshipper sings out a heartfelt prayer that that might not be ashamed in that awful way.

Of course the only way for the worshipper to "stay on track" each day is to live it by God's rules - by "Your Ways, O Lord."  For that to happen, each and every one needs to be taught what those ways are, to be shown, "Your paths," and to be led in "Your truth." God's people are always totally dependent upon Him for grace to live.  So they sing, "For You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day."  They are thus reminded as they sing that there's no other resource.

They're going to need His "tender mercies and . . . lovingkindness" every moment of the day.  As each one remembers that need at the beginning of the day, though, there come to mind past sins, even sins of youth, and it's necessary to sing, "According to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness' sake, O Lord."

Prayer like that should lead to the realization that God has always been gracious, that "the humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way," and, in fact, that "all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies."

In view of that constant grace and mercy, each one cries out, "For Your Name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great."  Such a thought leads to reflection on the merciful Character of their God, on the fact that He teaches His way, the way "He chooses" to all who fear Him, and that it is He alone Who causes His people to dwell in prosperity so that his descendants inherit the earth.  In fact, "the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant!"In view of such mercy and grace, the song naturally goes on to say, "My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net!"  Sin is a trap.  Oh how we each need to be delivered!

With renewed confidence in the merciful Lord, then, each one can petition, "Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted - the troubles of my heart have enlarged.  Bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins." Such words just reflect the fact that there are many temptations and sins to be overcome in a life lived for the Lord. 

And not only the weakness and waywardness within must be in view, but the dangers outside as well.  So each one prays,"Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.  Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.  Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on You."

Then, having prayed about his own needs, the worshipper also prays with and for all the people.  Together they sing, "Redeem Israel, O God, out of all their troubles!"

With what attitude do you come before the Lord each morning?  Do you realize that you will be "ashamed" at the end of the day unless you depend on Him in prayer right from the beginning?  Do you express your need of Him, your need of His forgiveness, grace, and strength for that day?  Are you aware of the strong enemy that lurks about you all the day, seeking to "devour" you in self-seeking and sin?  Are you so acquainted with yourself that you know you'll fail, possibly even many times each day, and that you'll need to be delivered each and every time by the only One Who can deliver you?  And do you pray, not only for yourself, but also for all of God's people, many of whom you know and mention by name?  Oh how good it is to begin each day with our eyes upon our Lord!

[Marilyn]

Oh Lord I pray that you would write these words upon my heart. So that they would eve be beofre me  and in my thought day and night.

[Jenny]

5 p.m.

Hello Pastor Al....Me again!

This is the devotional for today with "Encounter With God"....Scripture Union, which I am using at this time.

It is a special Psalm for me because it holds out promise and hope.

If we humble ourselves before the Lord He will teach us His way  (v 9.)..

Twice in recent weeks He has given me verse 12 as a promise "Who is the man who reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that He should choose."........

I feel therefore that He is saying I will guide you in the right decision on  a certain matter which troubles me.

Verse 21.  Is my reply to my God  "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me for I wait and EXPECT YOU......

I HAVE TO BE EXPECTANT!!!

I am using the Amplified Bible for Psalms. and verse 14 fills me with joy.

"The secret of the sweet, satisfying companionship of the Lord have they who fear, revere and worship Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them it's DEEP INNER  meaning".

The Lord I say is all that I have and this is a beautiful true verse Pastor....My Jesus gives me all I need.  I think Marilyn knows how this feels too.

Apparently this Psalm is an acrostic.....AN AID TO MEMORISING IT......each verse begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The last verse is considered to be a later addition ...........

It's all about being lonely and awareness of our own sin.....GOSH THIS IS HOW I FEEL TOO.

May I share the last sentence of the Devotional on Psalm 25......
"The best teacher and guide is the One who knows the way and will walk it with you as your friend......GOD.

Jenny.

[Marilyn]

With what attitude do you come before the Lord each morning?  Do you realize that you will be "ashamed" at the end of the day unless you depend on Him in prayer right from the beginning of it?  Do you express your need of Him, your need of His forgiveness and of His grace and strength for that day?  Do you realize the strong enemy that lurks about you all the day, seeking to "devour" you in self-seeking and sin?  Are you so acquainted with yourself that you know you'll fail, possibly even many times each day, and that you'll need to be delivered each and every time by the only One Who can deliver you?  And do you pray, not only for yourself, but also for all of God's people, many of whom you know and mention by name?  Oh how good it is to begin each day with our eyes upon our Lord!

Answers to the above questions

1. With reverence
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Yes but sometimes I forget that God is always watching me and knows what I am failing at.
6. Oh Yes.

"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me. 

this is part of a song that we sing at church.

I am still inwardly digesting this Psalm. I can't really say much about it right now.

[Al Moak]

I know the song to which you are referring.  In fact, I can't even read the psalm without hearing the part I'm reading in my mind!