Episode Transcript
Psalm 25 (NIV)
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.
14 The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope, Lord, is in you.
22 Deliver Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!
CONSIDER THIS
Today’s post is from A Meditative Journey Through the Psalms by Timothy and Julie Tennent. Most recently, he served as president of Asbury Theological Seminary, among other posts he holds across the global church. Julie is a gifted musician and was one of the driving forces that helped bring to fruition the Seedbed hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise. We will share some of their writing on the Psalms on Sundays.
Psalm 25 is another one of the acrostic psalms found in the Psalter. We noted with Psalm 9 that acrostics were used to reinforce four great themes. This psalm undergirds them all, but especially the recognition of the two paths and calling us to trust the character and nature of God. David’s “enemies have increased” (v. 19), and he longs for God to publicly set things right. Psalm 25 explores a world that is strange to the modern, Western reader. It is the world of honor and shame. Western cultures have typically emphasized the forensic or legal side of Christ’s work. Because of Christ’s work on the cross, we have been declared not guilty before the great tribunal of God’s judgment throne. However, from the time of the fall in the garden of Eden, we discover three great effects of sin: guilt, shame, and fear. All three of these are central to the human condition and are, therefore, central in the work of redemption. In Psalm 25, David does not focus on his guilt but his shame. “Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me” (v. 2) is the cry of this psalm. Guilt and innocence can be declared in private as we repent quietly in the presence of God. But shame and honor are about our life in the world—the public testimony of those around us. The psalmist longs for public vindication over those who oppose him. He cries, “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame” (v. 3).
It is important to remember as we read this psalm (and others like it) that whenever a psalm declares that we are standing in the way of righteousness, it is not because they did not see themselves as sinners. Rather, it is precisely because they trusted in the covenant they were standing in, which was sealed and secured by a righteous God. This, too, is the basis of our final vindication before God.
The book of Revelation promises us that God will publicly vindicate his servants (Rev. 20:11–15). It is important to David not only that we are declared innocent before God but that we are publicly honored before the eyes of those who have plotted our downfall. The psalmist is painfully aware of the “sins of [his] youth” (v. 7), but he has placed his trust in the Lord, and he longs to share in God’s honor before the nations. The psalm ends with the prayers, “Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you” (v. 20).
For the Awakening,
Timothy and Julie Tennent
THE HYMN
Sing Psalm 25 with the Seedbed Psalter today. I suggest the tune "Dundee" ("God Moves in a Mysterious Way"). You can hear the tune played online by Julie Tennent here. If you listen to the podcast audio version, I will sing the psalm in this same tune. For your convenience, the words from the Psalter are printed below.
1 As unto You I lift my soul, O Lord, I trust in Thee;
2 But let me not be put to shame, nor foes gloat over me.
3 Certain it is that none are shamed whose hope is in Your name;
Deeds of those who are treacherous shall all be put to shame.
4 Ever I want to know Your ways; teach me Your paths, O Lord.
5 For You I wait the whole day long—You are my Savior God.
5/6 Guide me and teach me in Your truth; recall Your mercy, Lord—
6 How from of old Your steadfast love has been my sole reward.
7 I know transgressions of my youth are ever known to Thee;
Judge not my sins; recall them not; in love, remember me.
8 Kind, good, and upright is the Lord; He teaches those astray;
9 Leading the humble in what’s right, and teaching them His way.
10 Moreover, all of the Lord’s ways are faithfulness and love;
Neglecting not all those who keep His cov’nant from above.
11 O Lord, for Your name’s sake and grace, have mercy all my years;
11/12 Pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the one who fears?
12 Quick is the Lord to know the one who fears and longs to know.
Regarding him, He will instruct the way that he should go.
13 Souls thus instructed by the Lord will know prosperity;
Their offspring shall receive the land, a heritage from Thee.
14 The friendship of the Lord is giv’n to those who fear Him still;
Unto them He makes known His law, His covenant and will.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord who plucks me from the net.
16 Vexed though I am, Lord, turn to me; be gracious to me yet.
17 When I’m afflicted and alone with troubles of the heart,
18 Bring me out of distress, O Lord; forgiveness do impart.
19 eXulting foes all gather ’round; they hate me with great hate.
20 Lord, guard my life and rescue me! Let shame not be my fate.
21 You are my refuge and my hope; let justice preserve me.
22 Zion has troubles—God redeem! Our hope is all in Thee.
