Psalms Schedule May 20 Psalm 8 Who is the Rock? May 27 Psalm 25 Who is the Man? (Memorial Day Weekend) June 3 Psalm 107 Oh Give Thanks! June 10 Psalm 139 Where Shall I go? SERIES: PSALMS, PREACHING TO THE CHOIR WGBC & CITY CHRUCH Psalm 25 Teach Me Your Ways Overview It is important again to remind everyone what is the nature of the Psalms. They are prayers and songs of worship to God. The point of a Bible Study on the Psalms should more so be upon the orientation of the heart than determining precise doctrinal content. Remember knowledge without love is useless and just as ungodly as love without knowledge. Psalm 25 is a penitent prayer seeking the Lord’s help to teach the psalmist his ways and to not be put to shame because of their enemies or their sins. It is an acrostic with a few lines as exceptions. Meaning each line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet implying it may be considered a guideline to prayer. It beings and ends with a prayer that one would not be disgraced in their community by their enemies. It repeats several times desires to know the Lord’s ways and for him to forgive their sin. Proper prayer then comes from a position of weakness and trust in the Lord. It acknowledges we are moral failures and seeks to do the will of the Lord. Present Context Have you ever thought you won’t ever be able to go into politics because of your past? Perhaps you fear that because certain things have not been going well in your life that people will think your faith is not working or that you have not been faithful. At one time or another we have all been there. We all have skeletons in our closet. Things we don’t want anybody to know. Things that prevent us from living in freedom because then people would find out. Things we are embarrassed about. Things we regret. Or maybe you don’t want people to know what your real struggles are because they will be like Job’s friends and question your faithfulness. You know you haven’t done anything wrong but if they knew your real circumstances it would be difficult for them to assume you haven’t sinned or that faith in Christ is of no use. There is not recourse left but to pray, but to give one last heartfelt cry out to God to deliver us from this living hell. This Psalm is just such a prayer. In it we see that we need not fear our skeletons in the closet for the Lord lifts up those who are honest and recognize they cannot hide but need the Lord to be their cover. For he is abundantly gracious to those who trust in him and his ways. Cultural Context 25:1-3; 19-21 Shame and Honor - It is difficult to communicate to Westerners the significance of honor and shame in eastern cultures. The difference is due to the fact Westerners sense of identity is rooted in the self or the individual. Middle Eastern and Asian cultures sense of self is rooted in their community. Honor is one’s community is almost as good as money. Perhaps the closest we come is in small towns where negative rumors may make it impossible for the PAGE 1 OF 4 BY CHRIS TENNY, DISCIPLESHIP PASTOR SERIES: PSALMS, PREACHING TO THE CHOIR WGBC & CITY CHRUCH disgraced person to do business or have pleasurable conversations since everyone knows who they are and what they have done. Being respected in the community is almost akin to having salvation in the Old Testament and in the days of Jesus. Bible Context 25:11 God alone forgives sin - the word pardon/forgive in v. 11 (Heb. selah) has only God as its subject throughout the entire OT. The more general word for forgive (Heb. nasa) is used in all kinds of ways. The idea that God alone forgives sin is reflected in Luke 5:17-26 & 7:35-50 and was a common idea in the Old Testament. The problem is that there are consequences for our sins that a power beyond us can only correct. Hence only God can fix and cancel the consequences. For example, if one’s sickness is due to their sin only God can forgive and heal. 25:4, 8-10, 12 The way of the Lord - This Psalm repeats the word for way or paths five times. The way of the Lord is a frequent subject of the Proverbs. It is not focused on knowing the particulars of God’s will like we often pray - such as whether God wants me to be a scientist or a lawyer. It is focused more on being committed to him or not. It more focused on our dependence on him alone and doing what is morally right. Apart from that there is freedom to do as Augustine and Luther said, “Love God and do what you want.” Beyond devotion and morality is choices we make that may impact mission of the church. These matter to God as well and should be considered but first and foremost is loving him and obeying his commands. Passage Context 25:1-3 To You O Lord, I lift up my soul - The writer is expressing trust in the Lord because of the possibility they will be disgraced in their community.1 Perhaps they have committed sins that if exposed would threaten their status and influence within the community. Perhaps they have been circumstances that would give the appearance that they have sinned and their enemies here are more like Job’s friends. The writer expresses trust in God to not allow them to be disgraced but that God will disgrace those who seek to be wicked. 25:4-7 Lord teach me and forgive me - The repetition of the need for forgiveness indicates to me that their is some tangible sin involved. The Psalmist asks that God would teach them, in fact make them, acknowledge his ways. Often times sin is result of not knowing what is good and we need God to transform us to desire that which is good. A fact that is frequently true in one’s youth when they lack wisdom. God is his salvation because God is merciful and loving and able to correct the way of a rebellious person. 25:8-14 The Lord guides the sinner - The Lord teaches sinners his way. He leads those who are humble where the word also means weak and vulnerable. All of Yahweh’s ways are steadfast love and faithfulness. He alone forgives sin. The Psalmist is stating their utter confidence in God’s character to show goodness to those who don’t deserve it. The Lord’s goodness actually increases their own commitment to him. He then proclaims the benfits of the humble, the weak, 1 John Goldingay, The Psalms, vol. 1 (Nashville, TN: Baker Academic, 2008), 369. PAGE 2 OF 4 BY CHRIS TENNY, DISCIPLESHIP PASTOR SERIES: PSALMS, PREACHING TO THE CHOIR WGBC & CITY CHRUCH the sinner who acknowledges their need for Yahweh’s mercy. The Lord will not turn them away but actually graciously show them His way. They will find life and longevity and know his will. 25:15-21 I turn to you, so turn to me - His eyes look to the Lord and he desires that the Lord would face him and look to him. When the Lord looks down up his people he delivers them. The writer expresses confident hope that the Lord will extend to him deliverance and grace. That God will forgive his sin where here the word forgive is literally “carry.” That God will carry his troubles and accept him as he is. Lastly he returns to the desire that his enemies would not prevail over him because he finds refuge in the Lord, and that he would live with integrity and righteousness. 25:22 Redeem Israel - This last line indicates this Psalm is not just about the individual and their need for God but the whole nation, the entire church. We as a people, need God to deliver us from our sins and our enemies who seek to destroy us. PAGE 3 OF 4 BY CHRIS TENNY, DISCIPLESHIP PASTOR SERIES: PSALMS, PREACHING TO THE CHOIR WGBC & CITY CHRUCH Questions Explanation 1. What are some themes that are repeated in the Psalm? 2. Why does the Psalmist fear the shame from their enemies? 3. How do they reflect trust in God’s mercy to deliver them? Discussion 4. The word pardon (v.11) is used only with respect to God forgiving sins. Why is it that God alone can forgive sin? 5. God’s goodness leads him to show sinners his way with grace and love. Why do we often fail to pursue sinners and not separate from them? 6. What is the difference between needing forgiveness from God and from other people? Application 7. Group exercise: Share one of your most embarrassing moments. 8. Are you scared of people knowing your darkest or most embarrassing secrets? Why or why not? 9. What are things you need to the Lord to teach you about his ways? 10. How does Jesus provide the deliverance you seek from ostracizing of other people (cf. Luke 7:36-50)? Resources Psalms, Goldingay, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Wisdom and Psalms The Bible Jesus Read, Philip Yancey PAGE 4 OF 4 BY CHRIS TENNY, DISCIPLESHIP PASTOR.