WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.879 Psalm 25 of David. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:06.860 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:10.179 ! O my God, in you I trust. 00:00:11.179 --> 00:00:12.599 Let me not be put to shame. 00:00:13.700 --> 00:00:16.120 Let not my enemies exult over me. 00:00:17.339 --> 00:00:20.160 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:23.100 They shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:27.000 Make me to know your ways, O Lord. 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:28.640 Teach me your paths. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.039 Lead me in your truth and teach me. 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:34.380 For you are the God of my salvation. 00:00:35.460 --> 00:00:37.399 For you I wait all the day long. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:42.120 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:43.980 For they have been from old. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:48.600 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions. 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:51.519 According to your steadfast love, remember me. 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:54.140 For the sake of your goodness, O Lord. 00:00:55.820 --> 00:00:57.719 Good and upright is the Lord. 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:01.339 Therefore, he instructs sinners in the way. 00:01:02.339 --> 00:01:07.019 He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:15.259 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. 00:01:15.260 --> 00:01:20.780 For your namesake, O Lord, pardon my guilt. 00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:22.359 For it is great. 00:01:23.980 --> 00:01:26.060 Who is the man who fears the Lord? 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:30.040 Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 00:01:31.180 --> 00:01:36.300 His soul shall abide in well-being and his offspring shall inherit the land. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:41.359 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him. 00:01:42.099 --> 00:01:43.879 And he makes known to them his covenant. 00:01:45.179 --> 00:01:46.879 My eyes are ever toward the Lord. 00:01:47.539 --> 00:01:49.659 For he will pluck my feet out of the net. 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:53.079 Turn to me and be gracious to me. 00:01:53.199 --> 00:01:55.140 For I am lonely and afflicted. 00:01:55.859 --> 00:01:58.179 The troubles of my heart are enlarged. 00:01:58.579 --> 00:02:00.400 Bring me out of my distresses. 00:02:01.179 --> 00:02:03.140 Consider my affliction and my trouble. 00:02:03.479 --> 00:02:05.000 And forgive all my sins. 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:08.439 Consider how many are my foes. 00:02:09.219 --> 00:02:11.840 And with what violent hatred they hate me. 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:14.580 O guard my soul and deliver me. 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:16.520 Let me not be put to shame. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:18.659 For I take refuge in you. 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:23.420 May integrity and uprightness preserve me. 00:02:23.920 --> 00:02:25.159 For I wait for you. 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:27.860 Redeem Israel, O God, 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:30.800 out of all his troubles. 00:02:31.580 --> 00:02:31.939 Amen. 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:38.939 If you've ever gone to someone seeking advice on financial investments, 00:02:39.819 --> 00:02:47.659 you've probably been told at some point that the wisest choice to make is to diversify those investments. 00:02:47.659 --> 00:02:47.939 Right? 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:51.639 And the rationale behind that is basic and clear. 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:56.259 If you put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak, 00:02:57.079 --> 00:03:00.959 you risk losing everything if that investment goes bad. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:03.939 But if you spread out your wealth, 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.560 if you spread out those investments to multiple places, 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:11.540 you can safely maintain and build wealth, 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:14.879 even if some of them don't work out. 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:18.659 Diversification of finances, at least, 00:03:18.920 --> 00:03:23.480 it keeps you from having to put too much faith in one person, 00:03:23.939 --> 00:03:25.600 too much faith in one organization, 00:03:25.700 --> 00:03:29.319 or too much faith in one particular investment. 00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:33.060 And there's some people that treat their spiritual lives that way. 00:03:34.359 --> 00:03:36.120 They try to diversify, 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:43.319 diversify their beliefs so that they don't have to wholly commit to any particular faith, 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:47.299 but that they might gain some kind of benefit and return 00:03:47.299 --> 00:03:53.819 just from all of their various worldviews and various kinds of thought. 00:03:53.819 --> 00:03:56.739 David was not one of those people, 00:03:57.139 --> 00:03:59.219 as we understand in this psalm, 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.759 and as we understand his life. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.659 He never hedged his bets when it came to trusting the Lord. 00:04:05.859 --> 00:04:08.919 Even in the most troubling and uncertain of circumstances 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:11.439 and distressing seasons of his life, 00:04:11.519 --> 00:04:12.719 he never wavered on that. 00:04:12.959 --> 00:04:15.280 He always trusted entirely and wholly 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:17.100 in the Lord, 00:04:17.659 --> 00:04:18.399 his God. 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:22.959 Because he knew that when it comes to spiritual things, 00:04:23.039 --> 00:04:25.359 when it comes to eternal salvation, 00:04:26.719 --> 00:04:28.539 God's call to trust in him 00:04:28.539 --> 00:04:31.359 is an all or nothing proposition. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:35.039 There is no room for hedging your bets with God. 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:35.959 He doesn't allow it. 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:37.959 You're either in or you're out. 00:04:38.979 --> 00:04:40.739 You either believe or you don't believe. 00:04:41.579 --> 00:04:43.959 You either follow him or you don't. 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:46.500 When we get to Psalm 25, 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:48.959 David leads us in a prayer 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:52.279 that really reflects a true heart 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:54.500 that trusts the Lord. 00:04:55.339 --> 00:04:58.639 It's quite literally a faithful prayer. 00:04:59.019 --> 00:04:59.919 It's full of faith. 00:05:00.859 --> 00:05:02.120 And the backdrop of the prayer 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:05.099 reveals three key challenges to David's faith. 00:05:05.179 --> 00:05:07.219 I think what was probably three key challenges 00:05:07.219 --> 00:05:08.419 to our faith as well. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.379 First is, 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:12.120 and this is most significantly, 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:14.360 is David's own sin, 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:17.459 which he calls great in verse 11. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:19.439 Pardon my guilt, O Lord, 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:21.660 for it is great, he says. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:24.959 We see this as a backdrop of the prayer. 00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:31.040 The prayer is saturated in confession of sin. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:33.259 It's saturated in pleas 00:05:33.259 --> 00:05:35.040 for God's mercy 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:36.480 and for God to look on him 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:37.560 with forgiveness 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:39.019 and steadfast love 00:05:39.019 --> 00:05:40.360 and mercy. 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:42.180 And this is the first challenge 00:05:42.180 --> 00:05:43.439 to the faith, 00:05:43.520 --> 00:05:44.160 we might say. 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:47.340 David has to ask the question 00:05:47.340 --> 00:05:48.620 at some point along the way, 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:50.639 is God actually merciful? 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:52.639 Is he truly merciful? 00:05:53.280 --> 00:05:54.740 Can I trust 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:57.500 that there is forgiveness 00:05:57.500 --> 00:05:58.580 with him? 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:01.199 There's a second backdrop, 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:01.660 I think, 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:03.560 to the faith of the prayer 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:04.600 that David prays here 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:06.180 and it's David's distresses. 00:06:06.180 --> 00:06:07.519 So on one hand, 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:08.199 you have his sin 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:09.759 and he understands the reality 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:10.379 of that sin 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:11.579 and the presence of the sin 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:13.060 and he has to trust 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:14.780 that God actually is merciful, 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:16.680 that he will forgive his sin. 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:18.160 But then he's got this dynamic 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:19.120 of distress. 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:21.860 Often in the psalm, 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:23.759 he speaks of enemies. 00:06:23.960 --> 00:06:24.460 At the end, 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:25.699 he speaks of these enemies, 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:27.019 these foes 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:29.800 who aim to do him violence. 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:32.600 It's not just that they hate him, 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:34.020 it's that their hatred, 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:35.300 in their hatred, 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:36.860 they want to kill him, 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:38.080 they want to hurt him, 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:39.600 want to bring him down. 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:44.400 He is distressed in heart. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:46.700 There's an element of depression 00:06:46.700 --> 00:06:48.720 at work in the psalm. 00:06:49.900 --> 00:06:50.660 He's worried, 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:52.600 distressed. 00:06:54.900 --> 00:06:57.040 He knows that if he doesn't get some help, 00:06:57.180 --> 00:06:58.200 particularly as it relates 00:06:58.200 --> 00:06:58.860 to those enemies, 00:06:59.220 --> 00:06:59.900 he's toast. 00:06:59.899 --> 00:07:02.819 And so what does he do? 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:05.539 He prays for God's help. 00:07:07.159 --> 00:07:09.479 And therein lies a second challenge 00:07:09.479 --> 00:07:10.500 to trusting the Lord. 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:13.019 The question is, 00:07:13.179 --> 00:07:14.659 is God faithful? 00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:16.599 Is God faithful? 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:20.579 Will God deliver his soul 00:07:20.579 --> 00:07:22.319 or should he seek refuge 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:23.859 in some other place 00:07:23.859 --> 00:07:24.919 or in some other person 00:07:24.919 --> 00:07:26.620 or in some other thing? 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:28.120 And what we find David doing here, 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:29.679 he's full of faith in the Lord. 00:07:29.899 --> 00:07:31.000 So in his distress, 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:32.359 he goes to no one else. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:33.479 He trusts wholly 00:07:33.479 --> 00:07:35.539 that God is actually faithful. 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:38.199 And then there's a third backdrop 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:39.199 to the prayer. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:42.099 It's just the ongoing pressures of life, 00:07:42.099 --> 00:07:42.639 I think, 00:07:42.719 --> 00:07:43.539 that are at work here. 00:07:45.159 --> 00:07:46.099 David needs wisdom. 00:07:47.060 --> 00:07:48.219 He needs truth 00:07:48.219 --> 00:07:50.019 to live a life 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:51.799 that is prosperous. 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:54.699 He needs wisdom and truth 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:55.720 to live a life 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:57.020 that leads the nation 00:07:57.020 --> 00:07:57.680 as king 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.319 to prosper. 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:02.579 And so what does he do? 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:04.080 He prays for God's guidance. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:05.840 Teach me your ways. 00:08:06.960 --> 00:08:08.840 Help me understand your instruction. 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:10.920 And this is a third challenge, 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:11.340 isn't it? 00:08:11.340 --> 00:08:14.060 Is God good? 00:08:15.460 --> 00:08:17.100 And are his ways right? 00:08:17.100 --> 00:08:20.540 Can you actually trust 00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:21.680 when you come to his word, 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:23.040 what he has given us in the Bible? 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:24.280 Can you actually trust 00:08:24.280 --> 00:08:25.860 that it is the right advice, 00:08:26.400 --> 00:08:27.939 that it is the right counsel? 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:29.960 Can you trust him? 00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:31.920 No matter where you look in this psalm, 00:08:32.139 --> 00:08:33.600 the bottom line is, 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:35.659 will you trust the Lord? 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:37.639 And what we find in David 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:42.559 is this amazing faith 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:44.639 and wholehearted trust 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:46.699 in all of these challenges. 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:49.899 And these three circumstances, 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:51.340 these three challenges, 00:08:51.539 --> 00:08:52.379 they're as much ours 00:08:52.379 --> 00:08:53.519 as they were David's. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.699 So David doesn't only pray the prayer, 00:08:56.860 --> 00:08:57.539 he writes it, 00:08:57.580 --> 00:08:58.819 and he writes it in such a way, 00:08:58.879 --> 00:08:59.699 as I said before, 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:01.519 as to help people remember 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.600 and to understand 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:05.740 so that they might also sing the song 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:06.679 and pray the prayer 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:07.839 because these challenges 00:09:07.839 --> 00:09:08.859 are our challenges. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:11.179 And the call to trust the Lord for David 00:09:11.179 --> 00:09:12.819 is the call to trust the Lord 00:09:12.819 --> 00:09:14.979 for each and every one of us. 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:16.779 And so he includes it here 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:18.299 in his collection of psalms. 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:21.599 He intended for it to be rehearsed 00:09:21.599 --> 00:09:22.099 and remembered 00:09:22.099 --> 00:09:25.120 so that we might trust God's faithfulness 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.459 even in the most troubling 00:09:27.459 --> 00:09:29.899 and uncertain of circumstances. 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:32.359 The bottom line here is 00:09:32.359 --> 00:09:34.000 that God is merciful 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:36.320 and that he is faithful 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:38.519 and he is good 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:42.100 and no one who trusts in him 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:44.379 will be put to shame. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:47.120 Now I mentioned some of the structure 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.059 just a little bit ago. 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:49.139 The one that we're going to go with 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:51.519 to try to help work through the psalm 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:54.580 is this idea of prayers and meditations. 00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:57.840 There's three prayers in the psalm. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:09:58.940 They're broken up 00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:01.860 by two separate meditations 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.300 on the Lord. 00:10:03.899 --> 00:10:04.540 And then of course 00:10:04.540 --> 00:10:06.060 the whole thing terminates 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:08.399 in this prayer for God's people 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:09.940 at the very end 00:10:09.940 --> 00:10:11.700 and in the last verse. 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:12.620 And it's there 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:15.560 that we see clues 00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:18.580 as to why David can trust the Lord 00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:21.480 and why this will be so significant for us. 00:10:22.019 --> 00:10:23.160 Let's just work through it together. 00:10:23.460 --> 00:10:25.720 Let's notice the very first prayer 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:27.000 in the first seven verses. 00:10:27.920 --> 00:10:28.800 It's comprehensive 00:10:28.800 --> 00:10:30.580 in that it touches 00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:33.060 on all three of the challenges 00:10:33.060 --> 00:10:33.879 that I mentioned. 00:10:34.300 --> 00:10:35.759 But each challenge here 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:37.160 in this opening prayer 00:10:37.160 --> 00:10:39.779 is met by David's confidence. 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:42.279 His confidence in God's faithfulness. 00:10:43.040 --> 00:10:44.660 And the trajectory of the prayer, 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:46.160 the trajectory of this faith 00:10:46.160 --> 00:10:48.340 is set from the very first line. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:52.300 David's trust is in God alone. 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:54.259 We might break it down 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:55.160 into three sections. 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:57.259 Look first at the first three verses. 00:10:58.579 --> 00:10:59.339 To you, O Lord, 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:00.659 I lift up my soul. 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:04.219 O my God, in you I trust. 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:06.299 Let me not be put to shame. 00:11:07.219 --> 00:11:09.899 Let not my enemies exult over me. 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:13.500 Indeed, none who wait for you 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:14.559 shall be put to shame. 00:11:15.459 --> 00:11:16.539 They shall be ashamed 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:20.159 who are instead wantonly treacherous. 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:23.419 To you I lift up my soul, he says. 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:25.479 We've seen this before, haven't we? 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:28.159 We saw it just last Sunday in Psalm 24. 00:11:28.479 --> 00:11:29.559 Just set your eyes on that. 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:30.959 Psalm 24 in verse 4. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:33.099 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? 00:11:33.439 --> 00:11:35.379 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:37.939 who does not lift up his soul 00:11:37.939 --> 00:11:39.439 to what is false. 00:11:40.439 --> 00:11:41.579 What is this about? 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.439 We see it again here. 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:45.159 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:45.959 What does he mean? 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:48.519 To lift up one's soul, 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.439 it means to give one's whole person 00:11:50.439 --> 00:11:54.459 consciously in faith to the Lord God. 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:57.839 In Psalm 24, it's used negatively. 00:11:58.139 --> 00:12:01.199 It's used of lifting up one's soul 00:12:01.199 --> 00:12:03.839 in faith in a false deity. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:06.299 It's representative of false worship 00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:07.839 and of sin. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:10.920 But here, David, in contrast to that, 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:12.540 opens the psalm by saying, 00:12:12.680 --> 00:12:15.000 to you, I give my whole person. 00:12:15.420 --> 00:12:17.720 I lift up my soul to the Lord God. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:21.840 All my trust and faith is in him. 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.680 He uses it to express his complete 00:12:25.680 --> 00:12:27.899 and comprehensive trust in the Lord. 00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:30.240 Because he knows God to be faithful, 00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:32.560 David is confident then 00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:35.280 that he will not be put to shame. 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:37.319 And notice that language in the prayer. 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:40.240 Oh my God, in you I trust. 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:41.319 And then there's a request. 00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:43.659 He says, let me not be put to shame. 00:12:44.459 --> 00:12:45.480 What does he mean by that? 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:47.699 Well, that's the line that just follows it. 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.879 It helps us to understand, doesn't it? 00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:49.819 He continues on. 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:52.220 Let not my enemies exult over me. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:54.600 Now, here's what I think he means by shame, 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:55.639 at least in this instance. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:58.919 Here, David has told the Lord 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:00.399 that all of his trust is in him. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.740 He's putting all of his eggs 00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:03.879 in Yahweh's basket. 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:05.439 Nowhere else. 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:08.379 And all of his enemies are looking at him. 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:10.460 They're preparing for him to fall. 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:12.480 They think it's foolish that he has put 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:14.360 his faith in the Lord God 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:16.039 and not their God or in some other thing. 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:18.279 And now he turns and he says, 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:19.700 I've put all my trust in you, Lord. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:21.419 Don't let me be put to shame. 00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:23.480 Don't let me in the end 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:27.000 be ashamed because I put my trust 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:28.299 in something that isn't right. 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:30.259 Something that's faulty. 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:32.860 Don't let my enemies then have the last laugh. 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:35.039 Don't let them exult over me. 00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:37.419 But then notice the confidence 00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:39.120 that he follows it up with in verse three. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.759 Indeed, he says it's emphatic. 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:46.139 Indeed, no one who trusts in you, 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:48.399 no one who waits for you, 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:50.159 will be put to shame. 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:53.480 Is David in a moment of distress? 00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:54.919 Yes. 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:56.860 Is his trust holy in the Lord? 00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:57.300 Yes. 00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:59.960 Is he praying that God would act 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:01.740 in accordance with his faithfulness 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:03.419 so that he is not put to shame? 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:04.440 Yes. 00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:06.740 Is he confident that that will happen? 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:07.639 Absolutely. 00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:08.899 Absolutely. 00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:11.639 His prayer for God's faithfulness 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.980 is not a doubt of God's faithfulness. 00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:16.759 It's actually the strength of his faith 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.840 that's coming through there. 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:19.840 Oh, don't let me be put to shame. 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:23.560 Don't give my enemies a reason to exult over me. 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:27.019 In other words, he knows that God will come through. 00:14:30.219 --> 00:14:33.899 Indeed, he declares none who trust in God 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:34.859 will be put to shame. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:37.599 Instead, those who will be put to shame in the end, 00:14:37.719 --> 00:14:38.939 those who will be embarrassed, 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:41.559 are those who are wantonly treacherous. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:44.379 In relationship to God, I think, 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:45.559 would be the context here. 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.659 That in contrast to David, 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:49.339 who has put all of his trust in the Lord, 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:52.740 are those who are disloyal to the Lord God, 00:14:53.540 --> 00:14:55.580 represented here by his enemies. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:00.080 Lord, I trust in your faithfulness, he says. 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.240 Please be faithful. 00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:05.580 Now let's look at verses four and five. 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:07.820 We come to the next part of this opening prayer. 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:11.139 It changes just a little bit. 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:12.639 Now he prays to the Lord. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:14.840 He says, make me to know your ways, oh Lord. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:17.160 Teach me your paths. 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:20.339 Lead me in your truth and teach me. 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:23.759 For you are the God of my salvation. 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:27.740 For you I wait all the day long. 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:32.120 Here we see David is confident that the Lord is good 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.299 and that he is right. 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:37.779 He knows that his own wisdom is weak. 00:15:38.219 --> 00:15:40.279 It's tainted by his own sin. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.579 But he also knows that God's ways are good. 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:45.059 That they're always right. 00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:47.699 That his judgments never fail. 00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:51.059 That everything he says is true. 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:54.399 So David asked that the God of his salvation 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.459 would make known his ways. 00:15:56.579 --> 00:15:58.500 That he would teach him his paths. 00:15:58.619 --> 00:16:00.759 That he would lead him in his truth. 00:16:02.719 --> 00:16:05.939 This is why David is so committed in other Psalms 00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:08.199 to delighting in the word of God. 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:10.139 We see that all the way back in Psalm 1. 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:14.899 Blessed is the man who delights in the Torah of God. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:15.879 In the law of God. 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:18.559 And in his law he meditates day and night. 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:20.240 Why is that man blessed? 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:24.019 Because he's trusting in the Lord and in the Lord's ways. 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:26.019 And the Lord's ways are always good. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.600 And they're always right. 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:29.600 And here again in this prayer, 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:32.419 David is full of faith in the Lord his God. 00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:34.379 And he says, Lord just teach me your ways. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:37.019 Help me to understand what's good and what's right. 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:40.899 And I will follow you because you are the God of my salvation. 00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:43.199 I will wait and hear from you. 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.819 He says, amazing. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:45.960 Faith. 00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:48.600 He trusted God's word. 00:16:49.319 --> 00:16:49.879 So should you. 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:52.720 Look now at verses 6 and 7. 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:54.500 It takes another turn here. 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:56.419 He cries out to the Lord. 00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:59.039 Notice the repetition of this word remember. 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.299 Remember your mercy, O Lord. 00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.980 And your steadfast love. 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:06.400 For they have been from old. 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:11.599 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions. 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:15.400 But according to your steadfast love remember me. 00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:20.339 For the sake of your goodness, O Lord. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:25.599 Here's the first of three prayers of confession in Psalm 25. 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:28.160 This is the largest one for sure. 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:31.460 And the repeated plea for God to remember. 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:33.960 Remember, we need to understand. 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:38.819 David is not supposing that God has forgotten something. 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:46.360 What he's doing is he's crying out for the Lord to act according to his revealed character. 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:51.720 Do you remember in Exodus 34 as you've read through your Bible. 00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:54.140 Remember Moses wanted to see God. 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:57.960 And he has this amazing moment where God passes before him. 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:01.360 And as he passes before him, he reveals himself. 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:11.280 He says, I am the Lord, Yahweh, who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:18.259 Who keeps steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:26.700 When David says and pleads for God to remember his steadfast love, he's thinking about God's own self-revelation. 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:29.240 God has promised that he's a merciful God. 00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:31.119 That he's full of steadfast love. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:35.719 And now he turns and he says, oh Lord, in my life, please act according to that mercy. 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:38.619 Because I desperately need your mercy. 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:42.500 Remember your steadfast love, oh Lord. 00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:45.439 Remember not my sins. 00:18:46.719 --> 00:18:49.539 But according to your steadfast love, remember me. 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:54.099 According to your goodness and righteousness, your good name, oh Lord. 00:18:55.179 --> 00:18:57.599 Remember me and grant me mercy. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:57.740 Mercy. 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:01.719 It's a prayer of confession. 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:05.179 It's pregnant with covenant language, isn't it? 00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:09.399 He rests all of his hope for forgiveness. 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:13.959 Not on anything good in himself. 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:20.980 He rests all of it entirely on the character of God. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:25.159 Trusting that God indeed is merciful. 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:33.180 Now, this is true faith in confession. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:35.880 This is true faith. 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:41.940 Our confession typically follows a different kind of pattern. 00:19:42.560 --> 00:19:48.560 Whether it's a confession of sin to God or maybe we're trying to make right things that we have done against others. 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:58.399 Almost always our apologies and our confessions of sin are coupled with some kind of excuse or some issue of blame. 00:19:58.399 --> 00:20:02.899 Or if you just understood what I was feeling at the time, maybe you would understand a little better. 00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:06.359 Why I said what I said or why I did what I did. 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:09.079 There's none of that here in David. 00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:16.460 He doesn't trust in anything good in himself that God might look at and say, you know what? 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:20.259 Because you did this well, David, I'll forgive this over here that you didn't do well. 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:20.939 There's none of that. 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:22.199 He knows it doesn't work like that. 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:27.000 And yet he's still confident that God will give him mercy. 00:20:27.159 --> 00:20:28.919 But what does he rest that mercy on? 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.939 Not on himself. 00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:35.119 Holy on the fact that God is merciful. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:38.079 God, you've said you're merciful, that you have steadfast love. 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:38.939 I'm trusting you. 00:20:39.459 --> 00:20:42.659 Please remember that and forgive my sin. 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:47.819 It is a faith that is focused entirely on God's character. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.039 It's true faith. 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:56.599 Now I want you to make a note of how David addresses his sin in verse 7. 00:20:57.219 --> 00:20:59.959 Just two things that I think are worth meditating on. 00:20:59.959 --> 00:21:02.639 First, he acknowledges that his sin is real. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:06.020 That it is an offense against God. 00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:07.440 That it is worthy of judgment. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:11.300 He's acknowledging that in the fact that he's confessing the sin the way that it is. 00:21:12.580 --> 00:21:16.380 And he knows that any forgiveness from God is unmerited. 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:20.180 Which is what makes his confession of sin genuine. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:23.520 He offers no excuses. 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:26.520 He doesn't assign any blame. 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:31.360 He simply owns his sin and pleads for God's mercy. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.939 That's a pattern we ought to be prepared to follow. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:40.639 But notice secondly, that David speaks of his sin comprehensively. 00:21:42.979 --> 00:21:45.079 He speaks of the sins of his youth. 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:51.299 A time in his life that probably looks back on with some embarrassment like most of us would do. 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:54.519 But our tendency, right? 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:58.119 We look at the sins of our youth and say, well, you know, I was young. 00:21:58.139 --> 00:22:00.119 And you do stupid things when you're young, right? 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:04.579 David says, no, I want forgiveness for that too, Lord. 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:06.619 There's no excuse for that, Lord. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:09.039 Forgive the sins of my youth. 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:14.359 And then he contrasts that with pardon my transgressions. 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:16.639 I think he's making a distinction here. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:23.860 On one hand, there's these sins that maybe you might excuse or maybe that he doesn't even realize or didn't realize at the time was sinful behavior. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.280 But then there's this transgression, this idea of known sin. 00:22:27.580 --> 00:22:28.220 I did it. 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:29.920 I knew it was sin when I did it. 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.860 And I did it anyways. 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.180 And he says, Lord, please forgive me. 00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:34.380 He wants comprehensive forgiveness here. 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:38.640 Not just for the things that he thinks is big. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.360 But for all of it. 00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:42.520 He knows it's all an offense against God. 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:45.000 It's similar to Psalm 19. 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:49.400 Remember, in Psalm 19, he spoke of hidden faults and then presumptuous sins. 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:51.559 And I think he's making a similar distinction. 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:54.640 The bottom line is he wants total and full forgiveness. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:23:03.039 Because he knows that God will provide total and full forgiveness. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.140 And how does he know? 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:08.319 Because God has promised that he will. 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:12.059 That he forgives iniquity and he pardons sins. 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:15.019 That his steadfast love endures forever. 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:19.119 That he's merciful and gracious to a thousand generations. 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:21.639 That's who God says that he is. 00:23:22.659 --> 00:23:25.000 And David says, I believe you. 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:27.179 Please forgive my sin. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.440 Not just this one, but all of them. 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:29.799 Cleanse me. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:35.220 So these first seven verses, they are a passionate prayer to God. 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:40.779 But David only prays it because he fully trusts that God will answer. 00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:44.680 And we need to be careful not to think of these as demands. 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.440 That's not what he's doing. 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:50.620 Demands are based on what a person believes that they are owed. 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:53.240 That's not what David is doing here. 00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:57.339 Rather, he's focusing on the promises of God. 00:23:57.799 --> 00:24:01.259 And he's praying in accord with what God has said. 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:06.059 And I think a good question for us is, do we pray this way? 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:12.759 How often are our prayers matched, mirrored, here in a psalm like this one? 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:19.400 Well, that leads us to the next part of the psalm, which moves away from a direct prayer. 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.599 And it moves to a meditation. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.220 A shift happens here. 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.799 And we need to note it. 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:27.160 In one to seven, David's words are directed explicitly to the Lord. 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:35.420 But in eight to ten, his words are about the Lord rather than explicitly to the Lord. 00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:43.220 And the reason for that is because he has moved from petition to meditation. 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:48.480 Which is consistent for all who pray to the Lord in faith. 00:24:48.820 --> 00:24:53.300 Our petitions, our prayers to God are grounded in our meditations on God and his word. 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.980 Let's just read the three verses together. 00:24:54.980 --> 00:25:22.019 Now, why does David pray as he prayed in verses one to seven? 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:26.180 Because he knows and trusts that the Lord is good and upright. 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:31.099 That he leads and instructs and teaches sinners in his ways. 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:36.379 That all of his paths are marked by his steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:42.940 Can you see how David's earlier prayer flows out of this meditation? 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:45.819 And I want you to think about it for just a moment. 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:47.659 This concept of meditation. 00:25:47.659 --> 00:25:50.599 Not new age transcendental meditation. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:56.639 But just the discipline of thinking deeply on something for a prolonged period of time. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:03.039 It's lost on many of us and lost really culturally on many of us. 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:09.920 And what we find here is that David's prayer is really born out of his meditation. 00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:18.220 As he thinks about the Lord, it gives birth to this passionate, faithful prayer. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:23.480 You may be at a place in your life where your prayer life is just weak. 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:27.920 Or perhaps your faith is weak and lacking. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:36.539 It's probably because you don't take time to meditate on the Lord and on his word. 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:44.799 When's the last time you set aside a prolonged time just to think deeply about what the Lord has said in the Bible? 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:55.419 David's meditation led him to recall that God is more than willing to instruct sinners who are humbled towards him. 00:26:56.279 --> 00:27:00.119 That his mercy is applied to all who keep covenant with him by faith. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:02.039 Just read it backwards. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.079 Notice what he's saying. 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:08.980 Those who keep covenant in verse 10. 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:15.019 Those who keep covenant find that all of God's ways are faithful. 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:25.440 Those who humbly submit to the Lord and trust in the Lord, they find that he leads them in what is right and that his way is good. 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:34.200 Those who are willing to humble themselves before the Lord find in that humility that he is good and upright. 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:38.360 That he instructs them in the way that they should go. 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:45.039 Therefore, David trusts the Lord and he keeps covenant with him and he is not disappointed. 00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:48.079 Which brings us to the second prayer in verse 11. 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.859 It's a short one. 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:56.740 For your namesake, O Lord, pardon my guilt for it is great. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:01.319 Now I think this one is really at the heart of the whole psalm. 00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:04.979 We talk about that chiastic structure. 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:09.059 I think it's revolving around this thought right here that's right at the center of it. 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:11.599 On the one hand, you have the glory of God. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:13.860 Your namesake, O Lord. 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.759 Your reputation. 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.660 He desires. 00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:19.279 Steadfast love and goodness and uprightness. 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:22.880 And then on the other hand, and in light of that, he says, pardon me. 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.200 Give me guilt. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:28.099 I think the whole song is really kind of working around this in some way. 00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:36.240 Of course, it's another prayer of confession, which isn't surprising given how much David is meditating on God's character here. 00:28:37.439 --> 00:28:42.159 But what's helpful here is that David grounds it in this opening phrase. 00:28:42.659 --> 00:28:46.219 For your namesake, O Lord. 00:28:46.939 --> 00:28:48.799 We saw that also in Psalm 23. 00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:55.419 He leads me in paths of righteousness for his namesake. 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.219 What does he mean? 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:58.400 For God's glory. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.680 For his own reputation. 00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:06.680 Lord, for your own reputation to be known as good and merciful and full of steadfast love. 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:08.019 Pardon my guilt. 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:09.140 And then he adds this thing. 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.680 For it is great. 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:16.100 David has a strong sense of his own sinfulness. 00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:18.439 The greatness of his guilt. 00:29:18.439 --> 00:29:24.480 The greatness of his guilt only serves to glorify God's mercy and steadfast love even more. 00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:28.199 He is faithful even toward the greatest of sinners. 00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:32.399 In other words, for the glory of your name. 00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.319 Pardon my guilt. 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:37.079 And that gets us into just another meditation. 00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:41.379 That begins the second half of the Psalm in verse 12. 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:46.800 And what we find is that the second half of the Psalm mirrors the first half. 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:50.720 In the first half, we begin with prayer that moves to meditation. 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:52.620 In the second half, it's mirrored. 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:56.020 We begin with meditation that moves to prayer. 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:58.720 The meditations are similar to one another. 00:29:58.840 --> 00:30:01.880 And then the prayers are similar to one another. 00:30:02.520 --> 00:30:05.980 And this meditation comes in verses 12 to 15. 00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:08.299 Who is the man who fears the Lord? 00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:12.579 Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:15.400 His soul shall abide in well-being. 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:17.839 And his offspring shall inherit the land. 00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:22.000 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him. 00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:24.960 And he makes known to them his covenant. 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:27.680 And my eyes are ever toward the Lord. 00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:31.920 For he will pluck my feet out of the net. 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.000 Amen. 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.579 Who is the man who fears the Lord? 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.500 What does he mean? 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.759 What does it mean to fear the Lord? 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:46.740 In Psalm 25, to fear the Lord is to keep his covenant and his testimonies. 00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:57.860 It is, as is earlier stated, to fear the Lord is to humble yourself before God rather than to lift yourself up in pride against him. 00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:04.220 It is to confess your sin and cling to the steadfast love and mercy of God. 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:09.220 It is to desire his ways and his instruction and his paths. 00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:15.539 It is to put all of your trust and all of your hope wholly in the Lord God. 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:18.779 That's what it means to fear God in this psalm. 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:25.539 And what is it that David has found in his meditation happens with those who fear the Lord? 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.700 Well, the Lord blesses them. 00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:32.140 Look at all the blessings that he begins to enumerate. 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:38.700 Those who fear the Lord, those who trust wholly in him, he instructs in the way that they should go. 00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:44.580 He tells them how to live life that is pleasing to him. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:48.960 How to do what's right and how to live in a way that is abundant and prosperous. 00:31:50.520 --> 00:31:54.120 Verse 13, his soul shall abide in well-being. 00:31:54.119 --> 00:32:00.539 Even in hard times and difficulties, he'll have joy, wellness of soul. 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:05.199 His offspring shall inherit the land. 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:07.619 This is the picture of the covenant now. 00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:11.599 God fulfills his covenant for those who fear him. 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:16.819 Then there's the friendship of the Lord in verse 14, which in this sense is counsel. 00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:20.419 That the Lord comes alongside in counsel as a friend. 00:32:21.419 --> 00:32:29.200 Shows us not only the way that we should go, but makes known to us his covenant, his promise, his goodness. 00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:35.079 And then David declares in verse 15, I will always focus on him. 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.319 Why? 00:32:37.159 --> 00:32:38.259 Because he'll save me. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:40.659 He is the God of my deliverance. 00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:45.440 He'll pluck my feet out of the net because that's what God does for those who fear him. 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:47.340 For those who trust in him. 00:32:47.540 --> 00:32:53.800 It is blessing after blessing after blessing because he is full of steadfast love. 00:32:54.160 --> 00:33:02.680 And when we trust in him, what we receive from him is steadfast love and kindness and everything good from his hand. 00:33:03.820 --> 00:33:07.800 Well, that leads us to the final prayer in verses 16 to 21. 00:33:08.600 --> 00:33:10.560 Turn to me and be gracious to me. 00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:12.560 For I am lonely and afflicted. 00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:16.259 The troubles of my heart are enlarged. 00:33:16.380 --> 00:33:18.140 Bring me out of my distresses. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:21.779 Consider my affliction and my trouble. 00:33:22.800 --> 00:33:24.040 Forgive all my sins. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:29.100 Consider how many are my foes and with what violent hatred they hate me. 00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:31.220 Oh, guard my soul and deliver me. 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:33.360 Let me not be put to shame. 00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:35.360 For I take refuge in you. 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:38.840 May integrity and uprightness preserve me. 00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:41.579 For I wait for you. 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:47.419 Here we get a deeper sense of David's distress. 00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:50.619 Notice how he describes his condition. 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:54.740 He is lonely and afflicted. 00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:56.980 Now, he is also the king. 00:33:57.900 --> 00:34:01.220 Loneliness here does not mean he is absent from the presence of people. 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:03.160 There are people all around him and yet he is lonely. 00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:04.500 You ever had that feeling before? 00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:07.519 You feel all alone in the midst of a lot of people. 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.699 David says, that is why I feel. 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.920 I feel lonely. 00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.360 I feel afflicted. 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:14.599 His heart is heavy with troubles. 00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:18.519 There is a sense of emotional turmoil and distress. 00:34:20.220 --> 00:34:21.700 His foes are many. 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:23.840 They are full of violent hatred. 00:34:24.059 --> 00:34:27.220 And on top of all of that, he still has his sin to deal with. 00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:31.120 Which he probably understands is the cause of much of his distresses. 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:33.900 And what can he do in such distress? 00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:37.859 What can anyone do in such distress? 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:47.199 Well, because he meditated earlier on how God blesses those who fear him, 00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:54.960 David determines in his distress to trust the Lord and to cry out to him. 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:57.059 That's what he does. 00:34:57.059 --> 00:35:03.619 He asks for God to be gracious to him, knowing that for those who trust in the Lord, he is gracious. 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:06.480 He asks for God to deliver him from his sorrow. 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:10.079 He asks God to forgive his sin that has caused his sorrow. 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:13.739 He asks for God to deliver him from all of his enemies. 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:17.840 And then, just as at the beginning, he declares his trust in the Lord, 00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:22.739 knowing that no matter how hard things get, God is faithful. 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:25.759 And he will never be put to shame. 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:30.200 He'll never be embarrassed for trusting in the Lord God. 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:40.120 Now, a good question at this point is to ask how our prayers compare to Psalm 25. 00:35:40.620 --> 00:35:43.660 But perhaps before we can even ask that question, maybe a good question is, 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:45.080 do you pray? 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:48.580 Do you pray at all? 00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:54.759 And when you do, is it a prayer that's full of faith like this one? 00:35:55.599 --> 00:36:00.159 Is it holy trusting on the faithfulness of God and the goodness of God and the mercy of God? 00:36:01.739 --> 00:36:04.960 Do you confess your sin to him knowing that he is merciful? 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:09.699 Do you seek truly his ways and his instruction? 00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:14.259 Or do you just hope that he gives a little affirmation to what you already want to do? 00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:20.579 Are your prayers grounded in God's character? 00:36:21.859 --> 00:36:23.879 Do they show that you actually believe him? 00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:29.860 Now, there's a verse that we haven't got to, and we need to go there here as we close. 00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:37.920 A question that we might ask at this point is, okay, David has this confidence because he's read the word. 00:36:38.680 --> 00:36:42.660 And he believes that what God has said is true, that it really is full of steadfast love. 00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:50.839 And perhaps he's seen examples of that, not only in his life, but in the lives of others as he's reading about the patriarchs in his own Bible, in the Torah. 00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:56.639 But at some point, we have to get to this question of, well, if God is this merciful, 00:36:57.059 --> 00:37:00.639 and if there is this steadfast love that's connected to his covenant, 00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:04.819 how is that mercy and that steadfast love ultimately fulfilled? 00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:08.079 And I think we get a hint of it in verse 22. 00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:10.960 Notice the change here. 00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:17.840 What has been up to this point, a very personal and passionate prayer from the king, 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:22.460 now becomes a prayer for the king's people. 00:37:24.720 --> 00:37:32.240 Redeem Israel, O God, all your people, out of all his troubles. 00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:40.559 Part of this is, I think, David is letting us know that what he prays here, 00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:44.139 this psalm is for all who trust in the Lord, not only for him, 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:47.559 but it comes to us through the king, just not David. 00:37:48.759 --> 00:37:51.420 And it's this word, redeem, that I think is worth our attention. 00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:54.500 Why does he change it suddenly? 00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:56.739 He hasn't used this word up to this point. 00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:58.920 Redeem Israel. 00:37:59.159 --> 00:38:00.179 Redeem all your people. 00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.940 Rescue all your people. 00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:03.719 O Lord, what does he mean? 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:06.199 Well, we know what it means to redeem something. 00:38:06.719 --> 00:38:09.699 On one hand, to redeem something is to exchange, right? 00:38:10.339 --> 00:38:13.199 You get your Sunday paper, and I don't know if they still do this, 00:38:13.259 --> 00:38:15.839 but you get your Sunday paper and you clip out all the coupons, right? 00:38:16.159 --> 00:38:19.559 And you redeem the coupons at Harris Teeter this week, right? 00:38:20.659 --> 00:38:24.319 And in exchange for the coupon, they give you a discount. 00:38:24.759 --> 00:38:26.719 And you redeem the coupon. 00:38:26.879 --> 00:38:27.579 It's an exchange. 00:38:27.579 --> 00:38:33.119 There's another sense in which we use the word, and it is a word for atonement, right? 00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:36.819 Like when someone is said to have redeemed themselves. 00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:42.819 What we mean by that is that through some extraordinary act of goodness or morality, 00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:49.639 they have made up for some previous wrong action or former disappointment. 00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:57.539 Now, when David speaks of Israel's redemption here, he's not asking for God to empower them to redeem themselves. 00:38:58.799 --> 00:39:07.179 He's not asking God to help them come up and be strengthened with some type of moral payment that they could exchange for God, 00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:12.119 some kind of religious action they could exchange for his forgiveness. 00:39:12.359 --> 00:39:13.599 That's not what he's asking for. 00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:18.440 Neither of those things is possible if God's glory is to stand. 00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:24.900 Instead, what David is actually asking is for God himself to do the work of redemption, 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:32.119 for God himself to do the rescuing work, to rescue Israel from all his troubles. 00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:39.019 David knows that for God's people to be saved, God would have to make an exchange. 00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:46.659 God would have to perform an extraordinary act to cover our guilt and deliver us from trouble. 00:39:46.659 --> 00:39:50.799 God himself would have to be the redeemer. 00:39:52.219 --> 00:39:54.659 And that's what all of God's covenants were really about. 00:39:54.659 --> 00:40:01.239 When David speaks of the steadfast love of the Lord, he's invoking God's covenant. 00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:04.679 And God's covenants were all about a redeemer. 00:40:05.960 --> 00:40:08.440 His covenant with Adam in Genesis 3. 00:40:08.899 --> 00:40:11.219 His covenant with Noah a little bit later. 00:40:11.579 --> 00:40:12.960 His covenant with Abraham. 00:40:13.179 --> 00:40:14.819 Some of you are studying on Wednesday nights. 00:40:15.099 --> 00:40:17.019 His covenant with David. 00:40:17.899 --> 00:40:21.719 They're all focused on a future redeemer. 00:40:21.719 --> 00:40:28.059 God's steadfast love will be revealed in a redeemer. 00:40:28.299 --> 00:40:29.679 David knows that. 00:40:29.939 --> 00:40:39.759 He knows he can only pray this prayer for forgiveness and mercy in light of the promise of God's redeemer. 00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:44.099 It's the only way for his prayer to be answered. 00:40:44.099 --> 00:40:52.000 And he prays it confidently in anticipation that God will do what he promised he would do. 00:40:52.139 --> 00:41:01.199 To send a Messiah, a Savior, who will do the atoning work necessary to cover our guilt and deliver us from all of our enemies. 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:05.420 Now David prays this prayer in anticipation. 00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:10.539 We pray the prayer in reflection. 00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:19.559 Because God answered the prayer when he sent his son to make the exchange. 00:41:20.380 --> 00:41:23.780 And to provide the atonement necessary for our rescue. 00:41:24.500 --> 00:41:28.800 The promise was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:41:29.700 --> 00:41:31.760 God made flesh. 00:41:31.760 --> 00:41:37.080 Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law. 00:41:38.380 --> 00:41:43.360 And then he laid down his life in the place of all who trust in him. 00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:47.180 On the cross is the great exchange. 00:41:47.680 --> 00:41:53.640 He bears our sin so that we can be counted righteous. 00:41:53.639 --> 00:42:04.420 And then God raised him from the dead to show that his sacrifice was sufficient for our sins. 00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:07.339 That he really is the all-sufficient Savior. 00:42:08.759 --> 00:42:16.159 You see, when Jesus sang Psalm 25, perhaps in synagogue or at the temple growing up. 00:42:16.859 --> 00:42:19.900 He did not sing this as a sinner. 00:42:19.900 --> 00:42:24.519 He sang it as the sin bearer. 00:42:26.519 --> 00:42:31.220 He did not sing it as the one who needed it to be fulfilled. 00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:35.900 He sang it as the one who came to fulfill it. 00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:42.200 Identifying with David and with us in our sin. 00:42:42.199 --> 00:42:51.980 Now all of this is why the emphasis of this psalm and of the whole Bible is on trusting the Lord to fulfill his promises. 00:42:54.619 --> 00:42:57.719 And with that understanding, we can go back through Psalm 25. 00:42:58.719 --> 00:43:01.239 And we can say, okay, well, what does David really mean? 00:43:01.419 --> 00:43:03.859 What does this mean to trust in the Lord in this way? 00:43:04.159 --> 00:43:08.000 It means to wholly trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:12.840 It is to put all our eggs in Jesus' basket. 00:43:13.840 --> 00:43:21.420 And it is to do so with confidence that none who trust in him will be put to shame. 00:43:22.420 --> 00:43:29.239 No one who repents and follows Jesus Christ will in the end be ashamed that they did. 00:43:30.059 --> 00:43:32.659 Because he has come through and he will come through. 00:43:33.599 --> 00:43:36.599 He truly is the good and sufficient Savior. 00:43:36.599 --> 00:43:44.039 And because of him and in him alone, you can pray Psalm 25 with all the confidence of David. 00:43:44.860 --> 00:43:51.380 But only if you will come to Jesus and lift up your soul wholly to him.