Finding Peace Amidst Distress: Lessons from Psalm 25

Quotes, Commentary, and Devotional References:

https://utmost.org/modern-classic/what-are-you-haunted-by/

https://www.bibleref.com/Psalms/25/Psalms-chapter-25.html

Psalm 25

Excellent Hebrew text analysis webpage with study cards and resources

https://hebrew4christians.com/Meditations/Lift_up_your_soul/lift_up_your_soul.html

Images created using NightCafe Studio, bible passages from Berean Standard Bible available online https://biblehub.com/bsb.

David’s Cry to His Lord

Psalm 25: Context and structure

“This psalm follows an acrostic pattern. Each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this prayer, David perceives life as a difficult journey that can be pursued successfully only with the Lord’s guidance.”

https://www.bibleref.com/Psalms/25/Psalms-chapter-25.html

Psalm 25 commentary in source link above.

Verses 1-5

1 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2in You, my God, I trust.

Do not let me be put to shame;

do not let my enemies exult over me.

3Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame;

but those who engage in treachery without cause will be disgraced.

4Show me Your ways, O LORD;

teach me Your paths.

5Guide me in Your truth and teach me,

for You are the God of my salvation;

all day long I wait for You.

David recognizes and acts on his need for God’s presence and guidance! Do we seek God’s discernment, wisdom, and presence in our daily lives? Are we receptive to Holy Spirit’s guidance and movement daily?

What does it mean to lift up our soul to God?

“This is an expressive figure of speech speaking of the surrender, submission, and waiting upon God that David directed toward Yahweh (the LORD), the covenant God of Israel. It was as if David held his soul in outstretched hands up to heaven saying, “Here I am LORD, completely surrendered unto you.” Enduring Word Commentary

For detailed analysis of Hebrew text

https://hebrew4christians.com/Meditations/Lift_up_your_soul/lift_up_your_soul.html

Application

Psalm 25 is written for the purpose of being memorized, and or recited in prayer form. This Psalm is a great daily prayer! We remind ourselves to entrust our souls to God. We seek His guidance and commit ourselves to walking in His Ways. Oswald Chambers uses the analogy of a child and mother to help us to visualize the relationship: emphasis mine

“To be haunted by the Lord is to make him the ruling consciousness of our lives. A child’s consciousness is so mother-haunted that although children are not always consciously thinking of their mother, they instinctively seek their mother whenever a crisis arises. In the same way, we are to live and move and have our being in God. The whole of our life, inside and out, is to be absolutely dominated by his presence.”

Various editions of this devotional use the words haunted, or obsessed. The key to this concept is intimate relationship. Just as a child in times of trial, difficulty, or fear will instinctively seek out his or her mother, so we should seek out God! God desires to be present and active in our lives! His presence (Holy Spirit) guides, comforts, and convicts us to assist our journeys of faith.

God gives us a conscious to enable humans to understand right and wrong. Paul explains this in Romans 2:14-16.

14Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them 16on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.

Shame and Slander

God will protect us from those who seek to slander and shame us. Shame and slander are destructive forces that seek to isolate and cause us to live with self-doubt, anxiety, and despair.

Personal Reflections:

While serving in a difficult ministry setting and facing opposition, a wise pastor reminded me of these truths:

First, ministry, personal growth, and progress will create push back/resistance from others. Why is this common? People are comfortable and will resist necessary changes when it does not fit with their narrative of ministry. Some prefer to gossip and slander instead of communicating expectations or assisting.

Second, God is our Judge and Protector. He is the One to Whom we ultimately answer. He is the One who sees and knows our motive(s), thoughts, and intentions. Others react and judge based on their perspectives that are influenced by past wounds, failures, insecurities, distorted motives, etc. While we are to be accountable to others, we will not be able to please every person! People pleasing in order to avoid conflicts isn’t effective! Our ministry and lives bear fruit when we stay focused and devoted to our Source (John 15:1-17).

Third, we will encounter malicious people who actively seek to destroy and hinder those seeking to lead and encourage others. One can spend resources on trying to defend and push back these individuals or invest in fruitful ministry. I found myself wasting effort, and emotional resources in predicting and dealing with complaints–more than focusing on opportunities and available resources.

Individuals and groups with unhealed wounds or toxic traits will behave and speak accordingly! Effective communication, setting boundaries, patiently listening without judgment, and walking with Christ sets an example for others. A person demonstrates strength, wisdom, and grace in not responding to others’ attacks and false accusations. Chambers reminds us:

If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives— not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying.

How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy.

Focusing on God fights against worry and unbelief! We forget Who is For Us when we worry, doubt, and hold onto anxieties.

Forgiveness and Grace

David reminds us to seek God’s grace and recall our sins with a focus on God’s nature. We recall and remind ourselves of God’s desire to forgive, restore, and transform us!

6Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion,

for they are from age to age.

7Remember not the sins of my youth,

nor my rebellious acts;

remember me according to Your loving devotion,

because of Your goodness, O LORD.

8Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore He shows sinners the way.

9He guides the humble in what is right

and teaches them His way.

10All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful

to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.

11For the sake of Your name, O LORD,

forgive my iniquity, for it is great.

God forgives our sins. John speaks of this wonderful grace that follows confession.

1 John 1:5-10

Walking in the Light
(John 8:12–29)

5And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.

God’s ways are loving and faithful when we are vulnerable and trust Him to forgive us. His Light reveals our shadows and dark areas of life! His Light redeems and heals!

Standing in His Light and Presence. Our lives reflect His presence!

Respect and Dwell with God!

12Who is the man who fears the LORD?

He will instruct him in the path chosen for him.

13His soul will dwell in prosperity,

and his descendants will inherit the land.

14The LORD confides in those who fear Him,

and reveals His covenant to them.

15My eyes are always on the LORD,

for He will free my feet from the mesh.

God allows us to dwell in His Presence. His Presence guards and refreshes our souls!

This image represents a place of rest and refreshment: a place of joy and peace.

“He himself shall dwell in prosperity…” (Psalm 25:13). God will cause us to “dwell in prosperity,” keeping us at ease, even in the midst of tribulation, misunderstanding, and slander, if our “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

We rob ourselves of the miraculous, revealed truth of this abiding companionship with God. “God is our refuge…” (Psalm 46:1). Nothing can break through His shelter of protection.

Prayer for Restoration and Presence

16Turn to me and be gracious,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

17The troubles of my heart increase;

free me from my distress.

18Consider my affliction and trouble,

and take away all my sins.

19Consider my enemies, for they are many,

and they hate me with vicious hatred.

20Guard my soul and deliver me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in You.

21May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

because I wait for You.

22Redeem Israel, O God,

from all its distress.

Application/Conclusion

David is vulnerable before God. He discusses his situation, how he feels, and reminds himself of God’s nature. God’s nature is His Traits. David in other Psalms recalls how God protected and guided him in the journey of faith. Setting aside time to pray through and reflect on our lives through the Psalms focuses us on God. Prayer and Psalm reading is a great way to incorporate God’s Word into our daily lives!