In the case of others’ faults, sometimes it’s good to “distinctly remember forgetting,” as Clara Barton said.
We have, in the previous three psalms, scanned the history that matters most to the child of God. Psalm 22 took us into the past where we stood agape at God’s Son on the tree. In Psalm 24, we hurtled into the future to see the King—once crucified outside Salem’s gate—arriving there again, this time for the gates to swing open to His everlasting kingdom. In between, at present is the winding path from grace to glory. Now we come to another of those carefully-constructed alphabetic psalms, Psalm 25. The first 7 and last 7 verses are prayers. Verse 11, just about in the middle, is also a request. It’s a pattern similar to Psalm 23, with the prayers spoken to the Lord, and verses 8-10 and 12-15 spoken about Him. The theme is the psalmist’s desire for nearness with the Lord. He expresses some of the moral dimensions of life. There is choice and trust: “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You” (Ps 25:1-2). There is conscience and memory. See the contrast between who should and shouldn’t be ashamed. “Let no one who waits on You be ashamed; let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause” (v 3). But man isn’t locked into instinct; we make real choices and can learn God’s ways. “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth” (vv 4-5). Now David presents another contrast. “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses…Do not remember the sins of my youth” (vv 6-7). Isn’t it wonderful that God has a selective memory? The Bible says so. It’s the basis of the New Covenant (Heb 8:12). We’ll think more of this psalm in our next study. But let’s pray today, “According to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord” (Ps 25:7).