You Are The One I Have Been Waiting For
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Psalm 25:1-22 (ERV)-A song of David. LORD, I put my life in your hands. 2 I trust in you, my God, and I will not be disappointed. My enemies will not laugh at me. 3 No one who trusts in you will be disappointed. But disappointment will come to those who try to deceive others. They will get nothing. 4 LORD, help me learn your ways. Show me how you want me to live. 5 Guide me and teach me your truths. You are my God, my Savior. You are the one I have been waiting for. 6 Remember to be kind to me, LORD. Show me the tender love that you have always had. 7 Don’t remember the sinful things I did when I was young. Because you are good, LORD, remember me with your faithful love. 8 The LORD is good and does what is right. He shows sinners the right way to live. 9 He teaches his ways to humble people. He leads them with fairness. 10 The LORD is kind and true to those who obey what he said in his agreement. 11 LORD, I have done many wrong things. But I ask you to forgive them all to show your goodness. 12 When people choose to follow the LORD, he shows them the best way to live. 13 They will enjoy good things, and their children will get the land God promised. 14 The LORD tells his secrets to his followers. He teaches them about his agreement. 15 I always look to the LORD for help. Only he can free me from my troubles. 16 I am hurt and lonely. Turn to me, and show me mercy. 17 Free me from my troubles. Help me solve my problems. 18 Look at my trials and troubles. Forgive me for all the sins I have done. 19 Look at all the enemies I have. They hate me and want to hurt me. 20 Protect me! Save me from them! I come to you for protection, so don’t let me be disappointed. 21 You are good and do what is right. I trust you to protect me. 22 God, save the people of Israel from all their enemies.
The Book of Psalms has been my favorite Book of the Bible for as long as I can remember. Anything that I am facing in life, I can find comfort and guidance for from the Book of Psalms. This one-Psalm 25-is one of my favorites. One of the interesting things about this Psalm is the way it is organized in the original language. You see, when we look at this Psalm in Hebrew, it appears to be a type of “model prayer” that was designed to teach the Jewish people from a young age how to pray.
“The alphabetical form suggests that the psalm is designed to cover the bases of prayer from A to Z. This gives it a distinctive power and dynamic, different from those psalms that may seem more expressive and emotional, though it may thereby raise the question whether we too easily assume that other psalms reflect unprocessed experience. They too process experience through poetic form. Psalm 25 has links with wisdom material in the OT, notably its stress on the “way” and thus on the different “ways” a human life may take. These add to the likelihood that it was designed as a model prayer, one designed to teach people to pray, though this does not mean it could not also have been designed for use in corporate and individual worship, like other psalms.” (John Goldingay, Psalms : Volume 1 (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms): Psalms 1-41, 367-368 (Kindle Edition); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic)
The psalmist struggles with the complexities and difficulties of life. Numerous times in this Psalm he seeks forgiveness for sin (Psalm 25:7, 11, 18), acknowledges that he has enemies who want to see him stumble and be destroyed (Psalm 25:2, 19, 20), all while freely acknowledging his need for the Lord’s guidance (Psalm 25:8, 9, 12, 13). We also consider his frank admission that he feels alone and lost (Psalm 25:16-19). The despair of his heart rings out, loud and personal. I can relate, because I have often felt these same burdens!
In all of this turmoil, is there any hope?
Can anything be done?
The answer is YES!!
The psalmist is going to trust in God by being honest with Him about his struggles, sufferings, and sins (Psalm 25:2-4), knowing that God is good and will show him the right and the best way to live (Psalm 25:7-8, 12). The psalmist can entrust not only himself, but also his children to God, knowing that He loves them and will keep His Word (Psalm 25:13).
Right there, tucked away in this passage, is a statement which I believe is extremely profound and uplifting.
Psalm 25:5 (NKJV)-Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:5 (ERV)-Guide me and teach me your truths. You are my God, my Savior. You are the one I have been waiting for.
Beloved, if you are waiting on Someone Who will love you unconditionally, save you, and be the most faithful and intimate Friend and wellspring of goodness that you could ever ask for, then look no further!
God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-is Who you have been waiting for.
Let us thank and praise Him for His goodness and mercy.
Lord, we praise You today. You are the One that we have been waiting for, and we honor and exalt You. We know that we have sinned against You and have fallen short of Your glory. We ask You to forgive us our sins. Lord, we are lonely and often don’t know the best way forward. We ask You to guide us and teach us the right and best way to live. Help us with our loneliness. Save us from our enemies who would destroy us. We pray for their salvation but also for You to stop their evil pursuits. We love You and thank You. Amen.