Scripture: Psalm
25:1–15
Psalm 25 is an acrostic poem, the first word in each verse following
the Hebrew alphabet. There is no specific event tied to this psalm. It is in
the form of a prayer asking for victory over David’s enemies, requesting to be
taught by God, appealing to God’s previous deeds, and calling to God for
instruction and forgiveness. In this psalm, we too are taught to pray to God
that he might rescue us from our enemies (earthly and spiritual), teach us his
ways, remind us of his deeds of salvation, and grant us forgiveness and
training in the faith.
Teaching
Luther writes of this psalm saying, “The 25th
psalm is a psalm in which the righteous pray that God will make them godly,
forgive their sins, guard them from sin and shame, and finally deliver them
from all enemies and all evil.”[1]
In short, it is a prayer that requests that we might live as part of God’s kingdom,
living by grace in the salvation he lovingly gives us.
In a sense, this is an expansion on themes which are stated
succinctly in the Second Petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come.”
This action has everything to do with Jesus’ death and resurrection, which bring
the kingdom to those who believe him. It also deals with the Holy Spirit. For,
if we ask, “How does God’s kingdom come?” We find the Catechism answers, “God’s
kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His
grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in
eternity.”[2]
Life
When was the last time you thought about your soul? Your
soul is the part of you that is immortal, and which lives on after our sinful flesh
dies. When we join David in praying, “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul,” we
are saying that we place our trust in him for our everlasting salvation and
eternal life. And as humans are properly both soul and body, we are, by
extension, praying as we await our resurrection when we will receive immortal
bodies to go with our immortal souls. So consider your soul and its importance.
Learn from this psalm to entrust it to God, and see the importance of the
forgiveness of your sins and of learning God’s ways – ways that include the
amazing love that caused him to give Jesus to die for us, and moved him to pour
his Spirit out on us as a deposit and guarantee of our salvation.
Prayer
Use Psalm 25:1-15 to guide your prayer today. Indeed, you
might want to pray it word for word! Pray that the Holy Spirit would help you
become more and more trusting in God’s salvation, forgiveness, and mercy and
ask him to teach you his ways and to lead you in his truth.
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