Psalm 25
1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness' sake, O Lord!
8Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11For your name's sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12Who are they that fear the Lord?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15My eyes are ever towards the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me out of my distress.
18Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20O guard my life, and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
22Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all its troubles.
I was listening to talks last week on mission statements, motto's, and branding. The point was to make the most impact in as few words as possible; usually in a clever way. I have been considering what the theme of the Psalms would be. I don't think it is necessary to take such a complex set of verses and emotions and try to reduce them to a "bumper sticker" slogan--easily digested and memorable. However, the first verse struck me as consistent with emotions that we have come across. "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul."
There is much to take in when reading the Psalms. However, for all the joy, for all the pain, for all the loss, for all the gain, that phrase, "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul" speaks to us all.
The danger of living in today's world is thinking that we are possibly our own saviors and healers. It is not until we are surrounded by our foes that we realize that we cannot do anything a part from God. The lie of the world tells us that we are in control. How much easier, then, to acknowledge that the Lord of hosts is in control of our lives. When faced with uncertainty and pain, these words of the Psalmist be our prayer, "Make me to know your ways, O Lord."
Pray Psalm 25.
