Thursday, January 1, 2009
Psalm 25:12-21
Who is the man who fears the Lord?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you. (ESV)
by Jennifer Lewis Berg
This psalm is a prayer. David knows that fearing the Lord brings him safely into God’s refuge. He feels honor, reverence, obligation, and hope. It should be quaking fear, for God has all the power. But this fear is awe, respect, and love. Taking refuge in God is strength, not weakness. David’s life was heroic, with enormous power and passion, sin and weakness. In his entreaties to God, he asks for simple help. We can read his words and see our lives and our problems in his. What a gift to know that the same mighty God who listened to King David’s prayers listens to ours as well.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2010, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.

