Personal vengeance never produces the glory of God.
It never produces peace in our heart.
We will be sorry for the consequences of our lack of patience.
PSALM 25
1 To you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you
I trust;
let me not be put to
shame;
let not my enemies exult
over me.
3 Indeed, none
who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who
are wantonly treacherous.
How many times, in these
psalms, we have seen David living in adverse conditions! Enemies and struggles
were a way of life. Things are not different today for most of the world; our
times of relative peace should be seen as a gift and an exception.
David declares his
dependence and trust in the Lord. He is asking His God not to allow him to be
overcome by his enemies, for that would result in shame for him. In fact, he
knows that his God will not allow those who trust in Him to be put to shame.
Reflecting on these
statements, I don’t think they imply that believers will always be vindicated
on earth, but that in the end, God will set all records straight. At the same
time, I believe, it does imply that God will always provide the strength to go
through difficult times with unmatched grace and strength in the Lord.
All believers can rest
assured that they will be strengthened, as they are confronted with trials and
enemies.
David realizes that he
needs to be instructed in the ways of the Lord.
4 Make me to know
your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in
your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my
salvation;
for you I wait all the day
long.
As David reviews the
difficulties of life his prayer is clear: He needs to know the paths of God. He
needs be taught, because he does not know them naturally. His dependence is
also obvious. God is the source of his salvation and he is willing to patiently
wait for His instructions.
As we read these verses,
something should become very clear for us: if the Lord is the God of our
salvation, then He also needs to be the God Who instructs us. And we should be
willing to wait upon His timing. We tend to become very impatient. Obviously,
we become impatient because we have already decided how God’s salvation should
be applied to our situation. Consequently, we tend to spend less and less time
in the Word. David needed to be informed and led, and so do we.
At the same time, David
realizes that he does not deserve this kind of care.
6 Remember your mercy,
O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of
old.
7 Remember
not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to
your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your
goodness, O Lord!
David relies completely on
God’s grace and love, that provide forgiveness for his sins. His relationship
with the Lord began on the basis of mercy and eternal love, and he knows that
continuing on that foundation is his only hope.
Are we quick to forget our
sins, and the immense grace we received upon our salvation? Are we aware of the
immensity of God’s grace and love that surround us? Our relationship with God
was unilaterally initiated by Him, and it continues only because of His
steadfast love. Left to our inability to invite or merit this perfect love, we
would be utterly lost. David cannot forget that his God is perfect in His
character.
8 Good and upright is
the Lord;
therefore
he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble
in what is right,
and teaches the humble his
way.
10 All the paths of
the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his
covenant and his testimonies.
David makes it so evident
that God is upright and man is not. It is
sinners whom God instructs in His ways. Although God is gracious and merciful,
He still expects man to humbly come to Him for instruction and direction. Man
must abandon any notion of self-righteousness or personal confidence. There are
amazing blessings in walking with the Lord.
God desires our humble
submission. In fact, it is when we are humble that He can teach us and lead us.
Those who humble themselves recognize their sin.
11 For
your name's sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it
is great.
12 Who is the man who
fears the Lord?
Him will he instruct
in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul
shall abide in well-being,
and
his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The
friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them
his covenant.
15 My eyes are
ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my
feet out of the net.
David does not minimize
his sin, for he knows there is no reason to minimize sin before God. First of
all, He already knows about it, and secondly, His grace is sufficient to pardon
it. Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey His commands. David is saying
the same truth. Those who fear the Lord are the ones whom God will instruct.
It is wise for us to
regularly evaluate our lives and confess our sins. Only those who go to God for
cleansing and correction, and walk in His ways, have true friendship with Him.
How foolish we are, when we don’t because our life seems too hard.
16 Turn to me and be
gracious to me,
for I am lonely and
afflicted.
17 The troubles of my
heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my
distresses.
18 Consider my
affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
David again reminds his
God that he needs His grace, because life is truly causing him great sorrow and
distress. We need to go to God in our times of troubles, not overlooking our
need for forgiveness.
19 Consider how many
are my foes,
and with what violent
hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul,
and deliver me!
Let me not be put to
shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and
uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
David pleads again, for he
is hated, and the actions of his enemies are violent. He needs the Lord to
protect his soul. He needs God’s help to keep his integrity.
Dear friend, when we are attacked
by enemies, we, too, must go to God for help. May our chief concern be holiness
and integrity, not revenge and personal justice. We can so easily become
troubled and bitter, as we seek quick and earthly justice. May we learn to wait,
as the Lord accomplishes His perfect will in us and in those who are against
us.
Personal vengeance never
produces the glory of God. It never produces peace in our heart. We will be
sorry for the consequences of our lack of patience.
22 Redeem Israel
out of all his troubles.
David ends the Psalm,
recognizing the need for God to redeem Israel Israel
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