Psalm 25 and the New Year : Baptist Bible Hour

Psalm 25 and the New Year

Posted by: Justin on December 29, 2011

Matthew Henry refers to the practice of praying God’s Word back to God as “wrestling with God in his own strength.” For this reason, I love to peruse the Bible for prayers to make my own. And one of my favorite passages to pray is Psalm 25.

As we look forward to the new year, I don’t know what changes, purposes, or opportunities await each of us, but I am confident that “good and upright is the LORD” and that, “therefore he will teach sinners in the way. The meek he will guide in judgment: and the meek he will teach his way” (8,9).

What a comfort to enter into this year with a prayer for his direction, knowing, not only that he will guide us, but also that “all the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth” (verse 10).

He will lead us in his good ways, if we but meekly seek his counsel.

My prayer, therefore, for each of us in this new year, is that we will make David’s prayer in the twenty-fifth psalm our own. Notice that he prays the prayer of a meek man in the first part of the psalm and then—and only then—lays hold on the promises of God to those who are meek.

May we meekly seek the Lord’s favor and direction, opening ourselves completely and trustingly to his wise and good path for our lives and for our church. Here is David’s prayer. I hope that we will each commit it, not only to our memory, but to our hearts and, from our hearts, to the Lord:

“Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me… Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (1-2,3-4).

Whatever challenges or difficulties we may face in the coming year, let us face them with confidence in his promises and with faith in his goodness. As he has proven to us time and again, he is always worthy of our trust.

God will never disappoint our faith in him, nor will he ever deny those who seek him. “What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose: his soul shall dwell at ease…” (12,13).

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