Psalm 25

Psalm 25 is a beautiful prayer that reminds us that God fights on our behalf , that He guides us, teaches us and instructs us in what we need to do.  It reminds us that God can rescue us, protect us & keep us safe.  God love us and is faithful in all His ways. If we live by faith (trusting Him) and humble ourselves before God, He'll answer us when we pray for His forgiveness, deliverance and protection. 

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise". Psalm 51:17

1 Samuel 16:7 says, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

PSALM 25  - A Psalm 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 lovingkindnesses; 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 mine iniquity; for it is great.
¹² What man is he that feareth 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 mine 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.

Always seek God’s guidance

Outline

 A prayer for direction, forgiveness & deliverance

I. a. Trust in God (1-3) David chose to trust and depend on
        God in facing his enemies.  
   b.  Show me Your ways (4-5) He prayed for direction.
        'And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search  
        for me with all your heart'  Jeremiah 29:13 
   c.  Remember your tender mercies 6) 2 Corinthians 1:3
        but Remember NOT the sins of my youth (7) – When God          forgives HE forgets.  (Hebrews 10:17, Jeremiah 31:34).

II. In these verses, David turns from a request of God to   
     reflections about God. (8-15)

   a. God is good and upright (8)   Matthew 19:17.
       He guides the humble (meek) (9) and teaches them.
       'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth'.
       (Matthew 5:5)
      He is merciful to those who keep His word. (10) We
       can’t expect His mercy if we keep rebelling   
       against Him (Matthew 7:21-23, Hebrews 12:14).
  b. Pardon my iniquities (11) David asks forgiveness for his  
      sins. More than anything in this life, we need His 
      forgiveness.
  c. He who fears the lord (12-15) God gives further
      knowledge and understanding to those who are respectful
      of Him; to 'fear' the Lord is to be respectful of the Lord. He
      will prosper
      The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him       
      they will understand ( Matthew 13:10-15)
      'he shall pluck my feet out of the net' He looked to the Lord for deliverance.

 III. David’s final pleadings (16-22)

    a. David ask the Lord to bring him out of his distress (16-17)
    b. Again he asks for forgiveness (18) Again, he asks the 
        Lord to deal with his enemies.(19)
    c. Again, he trusts.  He prays for protection & deliverance –
        He is willing to wait. (20)   
    d. Let integrity and uprightness preserve us.- Acts 24:16 
        David concludes not thinking just of himself, but all those who 
        are the Lord’s. (22).


Conclusion
 
David was not without sin.  He made many mistakes, some where big ones, but God forgave & restored him because He loved David’s heart towards Him.

Let us approach God in the same spirit of humility and reverence as the psalmist did, believing in God's goodness as we make our requests known to him.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but who so confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief." Proverbs 28:13-14

Questions

1. What did I learn about God in this Psalm?
2. How can I apply to my life what I learned in this Psalm ?

Also see:

The importance of the heart