Psalm 25

He Guides The Humble...

At first blush, this may look like a psalm of lament, especially towards the end, when David talks about his pain and despair.  However, after a closer reading, I see this as a more redemptive psalm.  David admits that he has sinned, and asks God to forgive those sins.  He reminds us of God's covenant.  We're also reminded that even if we turn from Him, we can return as long as we confess our sins and have a humble heart.  We learn that those who turn their lives to God, even the sinners, will be rewarded for their faith.  Much like Christ teaches us later, sin will be forgiven if we allow God in our hearts.

David gives us the imagery of God as a teacher, rather than judge.  We learn that God "instructs the sinners in His ways".  Additionally, He "instructs them in the ways they should choose".  God is not an observer.  God is involved in our lives, but he lets us make our own decisions.  This "teacher God" will only instruct us if we are willing to listen.  Just like the best teacher can't help a student who doesn't want to learn, God can't teach us his path to righteousness if we are unwilling to listen.  I find this concept of God simply fascinating!

We also hear about the concept of shame in this psalm.  David tells us that those who put hope in the Lord will not come to shame, but those who are wicked will face this shame.  I looked up shame in the dictionary to better grasp this concept.  At first I figured it would mean something like dishonor or disgrace, in that God will humble the wicked so they no longer have the haughty position they believed they had.  Upon checking the dictionary, I determined a better definition of shame works here.  Shame is also a guilty or regretful sadness for the things you have done.  With this definition, those who obey God will not regret the things they have done, because they will enjoy God's love.  The wicked however, will sad-fully regret missing out on God's presence.  They are not punished, but they have to face the regret of pushing away their loving creator.

Of course, it is easy to say that you will follow God, but it's another thing to live like that.  David admits this when he asks God to forgive his past sins.  He uses the metaphor that his feet are trapped in a snare, which is a hunting trap used to tie an animal's legs together so they can't move.  As we go along in this life, there are snares surrounding us, threatening to tie us in sin.  David keeps his eyes on the Lord, knowing that only God can release him from the snare of sin.  We will never be able to avoid every trap and snare that the world of sin has around us.  However, as long as we keep our eyes to the Lord, he will untie and forgive us whenever we're stuck.

1 In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.

2 I trust in you;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous without cause.

4 Show me your ways, 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, Lord, your great mercy and love,
    for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
    and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.

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
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
    forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
    He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their 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 Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

20 Guard my life and rescue me;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
    because my hope, Lord, is in you.

22 Deliver Israel, O God,
    from all their troubles!