The Rollercoaster psalm
Psalm 25
July 8, 2018
Have you ever felt like life was like riding a massive never ending roller coaster? We talk about going through seasons of life - - - that means we have those good seasons, when we seem to be on a winning streak. Everything we do, seems to work out . . . but then without warning, the bottom drops out and we can’t win, it’s lose, lose, lose. So, we change up a few things, we change our schedule, we change our work, we change the way we get dressed in the morning, we do eveyrthing we can to change our routine - - hoping that something will kick in for us.
Have you ever felt that way? I think most of us have been there. Even in the midst of a single day, we can be on that roller coaster. It starts off great, then we spill the coffee, but after awhile we get over it, and the day improves, then we get a flat tire, change it, forget about it, we have a great lunch meeting, then it starts to rain and you left your windows down! It happens - - doesn’t it?
Well, today we’re going to look at a Psalm in which David seemed to be on a roller coaster ride, and it was impacted him in all ways - - spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. We’re going to look at Psalm 25. I’m going to take us through various parts of it, so we can see what’s going on with David - - and we’ll see some of his roller coaster ride. The Psalm starts ~
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.
David starts out praising God. He is reaffirming his trust in the Lord. It is to you, O Lord, you only that I life up my soul. It is only to God that David gives praise and prayer. He continues by reminding God, it is only in you, God that I trust. There is no other way to worship. My hope, my eyes, my trust, my heart, they are given to you, Lord.
And because I worship you and you alone, Lord, David makes these requests – don’t let others shame me, don’t let them mock me and make fun of me - - AND don’t let my enemies be victorious over me, don’t let them celebrate my destruction. That’s what David is saying. It’s a petition to God - - it’s a deep prayer to God. There may even be a little doubt for David. Lord don’t let this happen, then in the next verse David affirms that this won’t happen. It’s part of our roller coaster ride of faith. He said ~
3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Do you hear the confidence in David? In the previous verse it was a request, a prayer, Lord, don’t let this happen. Now, it’s like David is saying, “WOE!! Wait, nobody who waits for the Lord, nobody who says the Lord is mine will be put to shame. I believe, I trust in the power and strength of the Lord.
Don’t we do that sometimes. We go through our rough patches. We doubt a little. Not total doubt, just a little wondering . . . ‘God, can you really heal me? God, can you really give me the strength I need? God, can you help me child?’ We ask, but sometimes as we ask we still aren’t really sure God can or will give us the answer we hope for.
And while we many not get what we hoped for. David is affirming in the end, you will not be put to shame. You will be lifted up and those who ultimately pursue you will be put to shame. Sometimes it’s part of that roller coaster of faith. We believe, but we still kind of doubt a little.
It’s important to note that 3 times in this Psalm David states that he will wait for the Lord. He said it here in verse 3. He said it again in verses 5 and 21 ~
5 . . . for you I wait all the day long.
21 . . . for I wait for you.
How many times have we placed our trust in God, made requests of God, believed God could 100% do what we’ve asked . . .
THEN we take back our prayers and say, “Hold on God, I think I have a plan which will take care of my problems. Let me get back to you if this doesn’t work out!” How many times do we do that? We’re not willing to wait on the Lord. We want immediate gratification. We make our requests known to God and we want God to be that magical genie and give us everything we want. But we know that is not how it works, but we do it anyways.
So, another lesson we can learn from David is the ability to wait on the Lord. To wait on the Lord’s timing. To wait on the Lord’s answer. It doesn’t mean you stop praying and asking. You keep on asking until you believe you’ve been given an answer.
Now, this can be a little tricky, because we often wait to hear an audible response from God, and you might. But you also might get the answer from another person, or from a scripture reading, or a song or a sermon. It could be life events give you the answer. God will answer in the way He chooses, we need to be alert and attentive to God so that we hear His answer!
Now, David reaffirms his faith in God, stating ~
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
This leads David to make another request of God in verses 6-7. He wrote ~
6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
David asks God to remember His mercy, His constant and steady, never ending love. They’ve been there forever and will continue forever, but now David is struggling again . . . He asks God not to remember his sins from his youth.
How often have our sins from the past come back on us like a sudden case of the flu. I know!! That’s not appealing, but that’s how it hits. No warning, just suddenly it happens and . . . well . . . I won’t go into detail.
It happens at night, when we get in bed. It’s quiet, except in your mind. Your mind isn’t turning off, maybe you’re replaying the events of the day or the past week and some incident pops up again. Or something reminded you of your sinfulness. It happened years ago, but you can’t let it go.
David knows God is gracious, loving and forgiving. I’m sure David asked for forgiveness, after all, he’s a man after God’s own heart. But during this dark time, he’s being reminded of his sinfulness. So, he prays, Lord, take these sins away from me, according to your faithful love, blot these sins away. David is asking, praying, Lord, reassure me, grant to me confidence that I am really forgiven, because I’m really struggling.
Know that 2 other times in this Psalm, David comes back to the issue of sins. We saw it in verse 7, now we see it again in verses 11 and 18 ~
11 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
There was so much guilt flowing through David. Possibly because of his situation. He may have believed he was the cause of it, and he wants forgiveness. David knew the Lord would forgive him, we saw his request in Psalm 51 a few weeks ago.
And friends, if you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, we can point out so many scriptures that show you are forgiven. It’s so important to know that God really does forgive you.
John told us ~ 9 If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:8-9
25 “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. – Isaiah 43:25
David tells us ~ 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. – Psalm 103:12
9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him; – Daniel 9:9
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace – Ephesians 1:7
Friends! Do you hear that great news? We need to believe it is real and true. God does forgive us of our sins when we ask from the heart! If not, then why did He send Jesus to die for us? That would be totally absurd.
Maybe the issue is that you are really struggling to forgive yourself for something you did. So many of us have been there. We believe God forgave us, but our real struggle is holding onto our own sinfulness and not letting it go, trusting that God has already let it go.
Eventually, David turns back on that roller coaster ride and falls into major despair. Listen to his words to God ~
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Again, you get the sense that David is overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. He is calling on God for protection. He’s afflicted, he’s surrounded by his enemies. He’s in trouble and David is calling on God.
Can you sense this back and forth nature of what’s going on in David’s heart and spirit? He’s struggling to move forward. It’s like he takes 2 steps forward and 1 backwards.
This is the 3rd time David has asked for forgiveness. Maybe we’re holding onto some of that sin as well. David makes the request again, "Lord, take away my sins. Can you see there are so many who hate me and are out to get me.”
David cries out to God ~
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
Again, we see David’s willingness to wait for the Lord. He prays, guard his soul. Not his mind, not his body. But David wants his relationship with God to be right. So, in the midst of my troubles, while the enemy is pursuing me, while the bills are adding up, while the kids are struggling, while my health is worsening, while my job is ending . . . Lord - guard my soul!
Why guard the soul? So that we do not turn away from God. For some people, when the times get tough, it’s easy to blame God, to turn our back and find some other type of god we can believe in, someone or something we believe will not fail us. Yet, God has promised never to fail us, never to forsake us, even during our worst seasons of life.
So, guard my soul, protect me from my enemies . . . and protect me from myself.
In verse 8, David said,
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.
David knows God is good, merciful and just. God cannot stand to look at sin. Yet, because God is good, He can also forgive sin.
You see, it’s so important to be humble, to practice humility. The humble person is a willing learner. They are not a know it all, they want instruction and knowledge. They seek wisdom. That is a person who can be led by God, because they are open to His teaching.
How often do we seek to learn from others? How often are we willing to admit we don’t have all of the answers? That’s so important for us to see in David’s request to God. Lord, I’m a king, I’m the most powerful man in the world . . . but Lord, I’m nothing without you. So, grant to me your wisdom and understanding so I can better worship and honor you.
So, at this point, David asked ~
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
Pastor and writer, A.W. Tozer wrote ~ “An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.” (SermonCentral)
How comforting to know, God in His power and grace, is always with each of us.
And David’s final words to the Lord is a prayer, not for himself, but for the nation.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Whatever troubles the nation was experiencing, David wanted redemption for the people. Psalm 25 is a little of a roller coaster ride of faith. It’s a powerful Psalm because David’s journey reminds us of our own journey.
Know that God loves you! He created you and called you to be His child! Even in the ups and downs of life, God has promised us if we wait on the Lord, we will experience the power of the Lord.
