Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 25:1-2 and following. Indeed, Psalms 16 to 24 have especially occupied us with Christ, the Messiah. Psalm 25 begins a new series (Psalms 25-39) in which the “residue” and the faithful in general are discussed. Let’s take especially into account the requests of verses 4 and 5 “… Make me walk in your truth” (Ps 43:1-5). It was a great subject of joy for the apostle John to have found in the family of “the chosen lady” children walking in the truth (2 Jn 1-4). But how to walk without knowing the path and the trails? God teaches them; and see how the soul progresses in it (verses 8 to 10 and 12). However, one condition is required: “The secret of Jehovah (his intimate communications) is for those who fear him” (verses 12 and 14). In other words, God reveals His thoughts and makes His Word understood only to those who are willing to submit to it. This is probably why there is a lot of ignorance in Christendom… and also often in our own minds.
But what is the condition of the residue and the first mention of the confession of sins? Christ having been introduced, not yet in glory, but as associating himself with the residue and even suffering death for him, the Word can now prophetically concern us with all that concerns the state of Israel. Here we encounter for the first time the confession of sins. It is no longer simply a position, as we could find in Ps 3 to 7, nor the feeling of the circumstances in the midst of which the pious man finds himself, as traced to us in Ps 11 to 15; but the whole condition of the residue, as he will feel it, is now placed before us. For the first words characterize the faithful: “To you, Eternal Lord, I lift up my soul!” The pious man expresses his trust in his God and asks not to be confused in his expectation as will be those who act treacherously. And verse 3 clearly distinguishes the residue: There is in the souls of the faithful the desire to know the ways of Jehovah, to be taught in his ways, for he is the God of their salvation; they always expected him.
Then the faithful throw themselves into the arms of divine mercy, abandoning themselves to God as he had manifested himself in goodness; he begs God not to remember Israel’s past sins, but of himself, because of his goodness; the faithful know that Jehovah is good and righteous and that, therefore, he will teach the way to sinners, and this is an important point: Then we find the character of the residue: the faithful are the debonairs of the earth and the Lord will make them walk in righteousness; all his ways are but gratuitousness and truth to them, and they keep his covenant and testimonies. For pious man confesses here, in the most complete way, not only Israel’s past sins, but his own sin; he expects mercy alone, as his sin is so great, and bases his hope only on the name of Jehovah. This is of great beauty.
This is why the first verses of this Psalm presented the pious man’s appreciation of the name of jehovah, as it had been revealed in Israel; – his ways of grace and truth. God’s response to this cry of residue, as it appears in the effective work of Christ, though announced by the prophets and forming the basis of everything, in God’s eyes, is not known of the pious residue at that time; it will only be when they look to the One they have pierced (Zec 12:10). But if they do not have this knowledge, they have knowledge of God’s ways and promises; they have Jehovah’s many utterances in the prophets that if their sins were like crimson, they would be bleached like snow (Isa 1:18). All this revelation is related for them to the name of Jehovah, and it is to him that they look, being to a certain extent, in the position of the poor sinful woman before she had received the Lord’s answer: Go in peace! (Luke 7:50). Then we find the prophetic answer of the Spirit in hope; for he who is debonair places his whole position before the Lord. The great result and true meaning of the Psalm is given to us in the last verse: “Deliver Israel from all its distresses.”
That is why this psalm places the whole condition of residue before jehovah in the expression before him of the feelings of a soul attracted and taught by grace; we find in it the clear and complete expression of the position of the residue and its instances before the Lord, according to what He is. And some special points are highlighted: the confession of Israel’s past sins, the confession of the speaking one’s own sins; – mercy is considered the only resource. However, one can expect from a God so full of grace that he teaches sinners; but these sinners are the debonairs who must inherit the earth. The integrity of heart characterizes them: they trust in Jehovah and expect Him. We can compare this Psalm with the wonderful picture of the residue that we find at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke. – it is both full of beauty and especially characteristic.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Let me know your path:
· The righteous will be without shame
Ps 119:6 Then I will not blush, in view of all your commandments. Isaiah 50:7 But the Lord, the Lord, rescued me; That is why I have not been dishonored, That is why I have made my face like a pebble, knowing that I would not be confused. Jl 2:26 You will eat and be satisfied, and you will celebrate the name of the Lord your God, Who has done wonders for you; And my people will never be confused again. Rom 9:33 as it is written: Behold, I put in Zion a stumbling block And a rock of scandal, And he who believes in him will not be confused. Phil 1:20 according to my firm expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed of anything, but that now as always Christ will be glorified in my body with full assurance, either by my life or by my death; 1 P 4:16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed of it, and rather glorify God because of that name. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him, that when he appears we may have confidence, and that at his advent we may not be confused and distant from him.
· Examples of Divine Mercy
Gen 18:26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the middle of the city, I will forgive the whole city, because of them. Gen 19:16 And as he delayed, the men grasped him, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand, for the Lord wanted to spare him; they took him away, and left him out of the city. Ezr 9:13 After all that has happened to us because of the evil deeds and great faults we have committed, though you have not punished us, O our God, in proportion to our iniquities, and now that you have kept these escapes for us, Neh 9:17, 31 they refused to obey, and they forgot the wonders you had done on their behalf. They stiffened their necks; and, in their rebellion, they gave themselves a leader to return to their servitude. But you are a God ready to forgive, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and rich in goodness, and you did not abandon them, 31 But in your great mercy you do not annihilate them, and you do not abandon them, for you are a compassionate and merciful God. Ps 103:11 But as much as the heavens are raised above the earth, his goodness is great for those who fear him;
· Straight trails
Ps 16:11 Thou shalt make known to me the path of life; There are abundant joys before your face, Eternal delights to your right. Ps 23:3 He restores my soul, He leads me into the paths of righteousness, because of His name. Ps 25:10 All of Jehovah’s paths are mercy and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and commandments. Ps 119:35 Lead me into the path of your commandments! Because I love him. Pr 4:11, 18 I show you the way of wisdom, I lead you in the paths of righteousness. 18 The path of the righteous is like the resplendent light, whose brilliance grows until the middle of the day. Isaiah 2:3 People will go there in crowds, and say, Come, and ascend to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths. For from Zion will come out the law, and from Jerusalem the word of the Lord. Isaiah 26:7 The way to righteousness is righteousness; You who are just, you flatten the path of the just. Hb 12.13 and follow with your feet straight lanes, so that what is lame does not deviate, but rather firms up.
· God’s forgiveness, procured
Ex 32:32 Forgive their sin now! If not, delete me from your book you wrote. Ex 34:9 He says, Lord, if I have found favor in your eyes, let the Lord walk among us, for they are a people with a king’s neck; forgive our iniquities and sins, and take us for your possession. Nb 14:19 Forgive the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your mercy, as you have forgiven this people since Egypt until now. 1 Sam 15:25 Now I pray to you, forgive my sin, come back with me, and I will bow down before the Lord. 2 Sam 24:10 David felt his heart beating, after he had thus made the enumeration of the people. And he said to the Lord: I have committed a great sin in doing this! Now, O Lord, deign to forgive the iniquity of your servant, for I have completely acted as a fool! Ps 25:11 It is because of your name, O Lord! That you will forgive my iniquity, for it is great. Ps 51:3 O God, have mercy on me in your goodness; According to your great mercy, erase my transgressions; Dn 9:19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, be attentive! act and do not delay, out of love for you, O my God! For your name is invoked on your city and on your people.
From all of the above, we note that this psalm is the expression of the feelings that David may have felt in his soul when he was on the other side of the Jordan. For there it was because of his sin that the hand of God weighed upon him; but in relation to his persecutors he did not incur any reproach. Such a situation produced in him various heart exercises. Sometimes he remembered his sins, and desired to know more and more the ways of God in grace; sometimes, with his integrity, he pleaded his case. And these are the various ways of God, which He gives us to know in this touching psalm: although the supplicant is aware of being blameless before the men who pursue him, yet, as a sinner before God, his condition and guilt are placed before his eyes with force. And his soul thus awakened to the feeling of sin, he desires to know the ways of God in grace and mercy. Only the sinner can thus come to know fully the ways of God, which are a mystery to all who seek to know them differently. And just as Israel now, because of its transgression, knows it as “a devouring fire,” so in the end, on the day of its distress and repentance, it will know it as “the merciful God” (Dt 4:24-31). That is why this psalm will be, so to speak, the breathing of the saints of the Jewish residue in the near future: It appears indeed that Israel is the supplicant of verse 22. We also note the voice or oracle of God interrupting the cry of the faithful to encourage him. And one cannot end without noticing that Jehovah’s “secret” and “covenant” are the same thing, that is, the gospel or grace of God in Christ Jesus. For this is God’s covenant and this is God’s secret. One of Christ’s names, as we know, is “wonderful” (John 13:18; Isa 9:6; Dt 29.29). Our prayers support you all.
PRAYER FOR ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the prière of a man of integrity who is persecuted.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.