MEDITATIONS IN THE PSALMS [An outline of the Psalm, A good devotional study when using the scriptures indicated] Psalm 25: 7-11, Part 2 THE GOODNESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
Look at verses 7 and 11; sandwiched between the prayer is David’s meditation. Verse 7, David and the dying thief breathed the same prayer, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42) – “…according to Your mercy remember Thou me” (v7). And where was their plea grounded? In the free grace and unmerited goodness of God. That is what David now meditates on, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He teaches sinners in the way.” He begins by meditating on the attribute of God’s goodness, and God’s rectitude. Why is God good? Because He is God! And He is good because He is good, not because of the goodness that flows out of Him. He is good when His acts are not good toward men. Everything about Him is good, His Word is good (Jer.29:10); not only His good Word of promise,” I will visit you:” but His good word of judgments, “Turn away my reproach which I fear: for Thy judgments are good” (Ps.119:39) The goodness and righteousness of God are held in friendly union, God’s attributes do not quarrel with one another. Men face-off grace and law as two fighting dogs, not so! They have been perfectly reconciled Ps.85:7-10. V7 “Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation. Where are we to see these, “He made Him who knew no sin, sin for us” (2 Cor.5:21); Rom.3:24-25; II Cor.5:19-21). If we would see these two attributes in perfect bond we must stand at the foot of the cross and behold it in the bloody Savior, evenly blended in the sacrifice of Jesus! It is no less true and wonderful that the justice of God pleads for the salvation of sinners in the atonement of Christ as well as His love and grace. Pardon has for its ground the cross; therefore between the two supplications he meditates upon it. “Therefore will He teach sinners in the way?” (Vs. 8-10) Not all sinners, just those who have heard and learned (Isa.54:13; John 6:45). V 9 with Matt.5:5: why does the Holy Father favor the meek? He sees in them the image of His only begotten. In the ‘School of Jesus’ meekness is one of the major subjects, no elective required. Matt.11:28-29, meekness in a child of God is not an immediate trait; it took the meek Moses 40 years to learn, forty years in loneliness and isolation, forty years tending sheep instead of shepherding Israel. When he slew the Egyptian it was a self-will act, not an act of the perceptive will of God. Israel would be delivered by the power and wisdom of God, not the power and might of flesh. He will have us to be meek, and this may be at the expense of breaking pride, destroying your sense of self-sufficiency (James 3:8-10). Observe the benediction pronounced upon the meek, “The meek He will teach in His way” (Ps.103:7). Which had you rather know meekness or pride? (John 2:23-25). V.10, “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth; to such as keep His covenant and testimonies.” Terry Worthan, 1938-2022
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