MEDITATIONS IN THE PSALMS [An outline of the Psalm, A good devotional study when using the scriptures indicated] Psalm 25: 16-22, Part 4 “I put my trust in You”
Remember this Psalm is divided into supplication and meditation, v’s 1-7 supplication; v’s 8-10, meditation; vs. 11 supplication, v’s 12-15 meditation. Now in v’s 16-22 we have a desolate soul seeking heavenly company, and an afflicted spirit crying for divine mercy. Observe the Psalmist eye was fixed upon his God, but his fear was that the Lord had averted His face from him in anger. Now we know this is not true, what would suggest that He has turned His back on us? “UNBELIEF!” Look at Psalm 22:1-3; 19: 20-24, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? …” “Do not be far from me …Deliver me, Save me.” The Gospel declares “Satisfaction has been made.” “Salvation is full and free.” “UNBELIEF” is the only thing that can suggest otherwise; His Word will strengthen BELIEF. “The troubles of my heart have enlarged” (v17); heart trouble is trouble indeed. When our troubles penetrate the heart we are troubled to be sure. We have troubles, and then we have special seasons of trouble, calling for the need of making use of prayer, crying for deliverance. A man’s trouble seems to be only special to him, and the longer it remains the larger it becomes. The sooner he resorts to the “Trouble Shooter” and has it resolved the better. The road to heaven is soaked with not only the blood of saints, but tears of saints. Not every generation of saints bleed, but not a generation is exempted from crying. “O bring thou me out of my distresses.” He will, not in our time, but His. Verse 18: two things, “look on my affliction – forgive my sins.” A kind look in the time of trouble is very desirable; and assurance of divine forgiveness is the sweetest consolation; “Nevertheless My loving kindness I will not utterly take from them …” (Ps.89:29:35: I John 1:9). Nothing troubles the heart and pains it so, as the thought of God’s displeasure. This kind of trouble brings you to godly sorrow, which brings you to repentance, 2 Cor.1:9-11; Ps.38. Two things to ponder; it’s good when our sorrows remind us of our sins; and it’s good when we are as earnest to be forgiven as we are to be delivered. Verse 19 the saint’s enemies. In v18 He said, “Look upon mine affliction …” Here he says “Look upon my enemies” but with another kind of look; observe the number of them, many. Our enemies are evil and powerful, Eph.6:10-17. Mr. Spurgeon adds “Watch them, weigh them, check them, and defeat them.” It’s best to pray for their defeat rather than their destruction; it may be that He is pleased to defeat them by gospel means. V20, “Keep my soul and deliver me” speaks of soul preservation, and parallels with the Lords model prayer in Matt.6:13 “Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me.” V21, there is nobility in professing Christ! “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.” V.21, “Redeem Your Church, O God, out of all her troubles.” ~~Terry Worthan
Older
Top
