2019 Feb 25 Psalm 25, 106, 1Timothy 5
2019 Feb 25 Psalm 25, 106, 1Timothy 5
Welcome, wishing a good day to all! Let’s shift to the 25th Psalm, an acrostic with each verse beginning with the succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet. We’ve considered 5 verses each in November and December of 2018, and January of 2019, so let’s conclude with verses 16-22:
“16 Turn your face to me and show me favor, For I am alone and helpless.17 The distresses of my heart have multiplied; Free me from my anguish.18 See my affliction and my trouble, And pardon all my sins. 19 See how numerous my enemies are And how violent their hatred is for me. 20 Guard my life and save me. Do not let me be put to shame, for I have taken refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness safeguard me, For my hope is in you. 22 O God, rescue Israel out of all his distresses.”
Psalm 25:16,17 The psalmist David pleads for personal attention by Jehovah, and His divine favor. He has many reasons for turning to Jehovah, as revealed in the next several verses. First he says he is alone and helpless. Have you ever felt that way? With Jehovah as a Friend, are we ever truly alone? How can we be God’s friend? James 4:8 says “Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you.” Also verse 14 of Psalm 25 says “Close friendship with Jehovah belongs to those who fear him, And he makes his covenant known to them.” Do you yet understand the proper fear of displeasing God? It involves a high regard for God and His lofty standards, which are within reach of His human creation. As explained at Acts 17:25, God wants us to search and “really find Him, although, in fact, He is not far off from each one of us.” The psalmist feels overwhelmed, and asks God to free him from his anguish, or extreme anxiety. By turning to God in prayer, we can find such relief. Philippians 4:6,7 clarifies: “6 Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.” May we tap into God’s powerful holy spirit for true peace, even amidst turmoil.
Psalm 25:18 The psalmist realizes his need for God, while now experiencing affliction and trouble. He seeks forgiveness for any sins, that God may be inclined to provide needed assistance. May we aim to walk uprightly before God, turning away from badness in the proper fear of displeasing Him. While desiring to train and “hold a good conscience” we may have to initially overcome sinful practices, letting God’s word alert us to sin. We can ask God’s forgiveness based on the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. As we make needed adjustments with faith in God, we may be considered righteous before Him. Then we may rightly ask God to pardon any sins we may be “unaware of” or committed without intention to violate His right standards. As we make progress in all of this, we can count on Jehovah’s loving support and guidance. Psalm 55 says “22 Throw your burden on Jehovah, And he will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to fall.”
Psalm 25:19,20 Even as we pursue righteousness, we may still have enemies of God to contend with, although loving even our enemies may soften some of their hearts before God. At Luke 6:27,28 Jesus counsels: “27 “But I say to you who are listening: Continue to love your enemies, to do good to those hating you, 28 to bless those cursing you...” Remember that God “does not desire anyone to be destroyed, but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9). Let’s cautiously help as many as we can, trusting God’s direction when dealing with those having questionable motives, still guarding ourselves from bad associations (1Cori 15:33). In David’s case, sadly some even had hatred for him, and he pleads with God to guard and save him. Appropriately as a king, he asks God that he not be put to shame, to maintain dignity before his subjects. Despite the need to endure reproach now, Jehovah will safeguard the name of all of his true worshippers. (Isaiah 25:8).
Psalm 25:21,22 The psalm concludes with reminders of the significance of integrity, doing right, realizing the protective influence of God’s word and commands. With our genuine hope in God, pleasing Him, we may rightly look to be safeguarded by Him for everlasting life.
Psalm 106:34-36 Back in the days of Israel, God was meting out vengeance on peoples of evil influence, which could in time multiply and recreate the violent world of Noah’s day. Accordingly, the evil peoples engaging in terrible practices dwelling in the Promised Land were to be exterminated by Israel, in God’s power. They engaged in practices such as child sacrifice and rampant immoral behavior. God warned Israel that if they let some remain, they would influence them away from true worship, and would prove to be a snare to them.
Notice how verses 34-36 read: “34 They did not annihilate the peoples, As Jehovah had commanded them.35 But they mingled with the nations And adopted their ways.36 They kept serving their idols, And these became a snare to them.”
Let us treasure God’s ways and refuse to violate His standards for what is right, and be determined to reject all forms of idolatry, which put anyone or anything in the place that only God rightfully deserves in our hearts above all others. For more detail, see the article “Fortify your Marriage by Rejecting Idolatry” under the MISC heading on this website.
1Timothy 5:1,2 say: “5 Do not severely criticize an older man. On the contrary, appeal to him as a father, to younger men as brothers, 2 to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters, with all chasteness.”
Thus, the relatively young man Timothy was to treat all in the congregation with respect, as toward family members, treating younger women “as sisters, with all chasteness.” Genuine obedience to God along with such respectful treatment of one another with purity of heart and motives makes possible a truly united loving brotherhood worldwide as members of God’s family of worshippers. Psalm 133:1 says: “133 Look! How good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!” And 1Peter 1:22 agrees, saying “22 Now that you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result, love one another intensely from the heart.”
Find Life and See
Between Winchester, Virginia, and hopefully, Washington D.C., having confidence that our thankful trust in God will not fail to inspire us to the peace He has purposed via His Kingdom!
