Teach Me Your Paths Series

Introduction – Going to the Designer

Have you ever tried to fix something you didn’t really know how to fix?

Years ago a man named Tim was stumped by his old Macintosh laptop.

His favorite Bible software simply would not run. He spent hours troubleshooting—restarting, reinstalling, checking settings—but nothing worked. His wife gently suggested, “Why don’t you call the people who made the software?” Tim waved her off. “I know what I’m doing.” Hours later, finally out of ideas, he called the Mac Bible company. They connected him with a man whose name sounded oddly familiar. Tim quickly discovered why—the man on the phone was the very programmer who had written the software. In minutes, the problem was solved.

Afterward Tim wrote, “How many times in life do we try to work out our problems our own way? Finally, when all else fails, we go to the One who designed us. Soon, if we obey, we find ourselves again at peace with God and functioning as He planned.”

Psalm 25 is like that phone call to the Designer.

It’s David lifting up his soul and saying, “Teach me Your paths.”

It is a psalm for people who need guidance, forgiveness, and deliverance—and who finally realize they must go to the One who made them.

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Reading the Text

> “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me… Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (vv.1–5)

The whole psalm unfolds as a prayer of deep dependence.

It is not frantic or melodramatic. Many scholars believe David wrote it later in life, when his son Absalom rebelled against him. It reflects a seasoned faith—quiet, steady, and real.

Psalm 25 is also written as an acrostic—each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. But two letters are out of order, a “broken acrostic.” One commentator said, “This brokenness reflects the way troubles break the pattern of life itself.” Isn’t that true? Life rarely moves in perfect alphabetical order.

From this beautifully broken prayer we can learn three never-failing truths:

1. God helps us in our time of need. (vv.1–7)

2. God can be trusted. (vv.8–15)

3. God delivers us when we take refuge in Him. (vv.16–22)

Let’s walk these truths together.

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I. God Helps Us in Our Time of Need (vv.1–7)

> “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust.” (vv.1–2)

When trouble presses in, to whom do you turn?

Nations turn to governments. We want policies to remove viruses, protect health, pay bills, create jobs. There’s a place for wise government, but ultimate help is found only in the Lord. David knew that. He says, “Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame” (v.3).

The Hebrew idea of “shame” here isn’t just embarrassment. It’s the pain of trusting something that proves unworthy. As another translation puts it, “No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.” (v.3 NLT)

David had learned this lesson on the battlefield and in the palace.

He remembered days when everything was gone—like the time Amalekites raided Ziklag and carried off every woman and child. The people spoke of stoning him. “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). He went to the Designer.

Then David prays, “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me.” (vv.4–5)

This is not just a cry for rescue but for direction. He doesn’t merely want escape; he wants formation. He is saying, “God, show me not only how to get out of trouble but how to walk rightly.”

Reflection

Do you pray like that? Not only “God, fix this,” but “God, teach me how to walk when this is over”? Guidance is a gift God loves to give, but He waits for the invitation.

Finally David pleads, “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!” (v.7)

Even a man after God’s own heart carried memories that haunted him.

Harry Ironside told of visiting a 90-year-old saint who lay on his sickbed troubled by old sins. Ironside read this very verse to him and reminded him of God’s promise, “Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.” Tears gave way to peace. The old man said, “I am an old fool remembering what God has forgotten.”