Psalm 25 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 25 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
Verse 2O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
Verse 3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Verse 4Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Verse 5Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Verse 6Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Verse 7Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O Lord!
Verse 8Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
Verse 9He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Verse 10All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
Verse 11For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Verse 12Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
Verse 13They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
Verse 14The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
Verse 15My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Verse 16Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Verse 17Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
Verse 18Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
Verse 19Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Verse 20O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
Verse 21May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
Verse 22Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
Devotion
When I am honest about my life and faith, I know I need more than a faith refresher or faith formation class from time to time. I need to think and pray as the psalmists do, in humble openness to hear God’s voice, recognize my limits and be consoled with God's instruction and love. It is good to take our own faith, ethics and moral inventory in an ongoing way. "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, teach me for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long." (verses 4-5). In many years of doing Fifth Steps with folks, I have grown to understand Psalm 25 and others like it, where deep humility opens up incredible new life-giving possibilities for our lives. There have been times when nothing else can take the place of the psalms for entering deeply into communication with God.
Prayer
God without you I am lost. Help me to surrender to your instruction and grace. Amen.