Psalm 25:1-9 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 25:1-9 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.
Devotion
This is a Psalm for deliverance from personal enemies. I’ve never had to pray this Psalm as David did when fleeing from his enemies. But the Psalm still has relevance for us.
The Psalmist’s enemies were also God’s enemies. As David was anointed to be king, so are we anointed in our baptisms to share in Christ’s rule. As the anointed of the Lord, God’s enemies will try to put us to shame for our sins and separate us from the God who claims us in love.
There are some wonderful words in this reading: “Truth,” from which we get the word “Amen” in Hebrew; and “mercy” and “steadfast love.” Both are gifts from God to us in Jesus Christ. The meanings of these words come together in the word “grace.” In Jesus Christ, grace is bestowed on us like a mighty waterfall, for in him we have both “grace” and “truth.”
Prayer
Gracious Lord, you have blessed us beyond our ability to understand or imagine. Keep us always in your love that comes to us in your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.