1.
Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2.
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3.
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4.
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6.
Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7.
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
8.
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9.
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10.
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11.
For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12.
What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13.
His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14.
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
THE OPEN SECRET
‘The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.’
Psalms 25:14
I too would know the secret of the Lord which is with them that fear Him.
I. It is a birth-secret.—Ah, has He quickened me into a new life, me who through the past was unprofitable and sad? Of water and of the Holy Ghost has He regenerated my soul? Has He taught me what conversion means, ‘in the intense and incandescent sense,’ to quote the words of a recent biography? This is a secret, between my soul and Him; and no one else can know it just as I do.
II. It is a life-secret.—Day by day, if I am His child, He guides me, teaches me, humbles me, cleanses me, hallows me. And this, too, is a secret between myself and Him, for one Christian’s experience never reiterates another’s.
III. It is a death-secret.—In front of me the cold deep river rolls its flood, and I must cross it before I can enter the City of God. But, when I come to it, if all my hope is in Him, He will have His own communication of needed grace, His own whisper of satisfying peace, for me. This is why there is a light in dying eyes, a smile on dying lips. And, again, it is a joy with which no stranger, no brother even, nor wife, nor child, can intermeddle.
Illustration
‘The main burden of the psalm, therefore, is the cry for direction, and the certainty that it will be vouchsafed. Even though we be sinners, God will instruct us in the way for His goodness’ sake. If we were more holy and wise, we might not have so strong a claim on Him as we have now. It is just because we are so unworthy and helpless that we can plead with Him to make a plain path before our feet.’
15.
Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16.
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
17.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
18.
Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
19.
Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20.
O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
21.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
22.
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.