The Alphabet of Grace – Psalm 25
1. We can and should expect…
A. Trouble from…
“A psalm of David. When he fled from his son, Absalom.” (Psalm 3 superscription)
“A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.” (Psalm 7 superscription)
“Of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.” (Psalm 18 superscription
B. Trouble from…
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” (Psalm 42:11)
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” (Psalm 43:5)
“Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:25-28)
“I almost regret this morning that I have ventured to occupy this pulpit, because I feel utterly unable to preach to you for your profit. I had thought that the quiet and repose of the last fortnight had removed the effects of that terrible catastrophe; but on coming back to the same spot again, and more especially, standing here to address you, I feel somewhat of those same painful emotions which well-nigh prostrated me before. You will therefore excuse me this morning … I have been utterly unable to study … Oh, Spirit of God, magnify Thy strength in thy servant’s weakness, and enable him to honor his Lord, even when his soul is cast down within him.” (Charles Spurgeon)
C. Trouble with…
“A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.” (Psalm 51 superscription)
2. We need to remember where to…
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)
A. Bring our troubles to God…
B. Learn to trust in…
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
C. Seek God’s…
“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:1-5)
D. Confess our sin…
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
E. Draw near to God…
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13)