The Song of the Soul
Psalms 25
February 3, 2019
You are certainly all now aware of Martin Luther and the work which he began in 1517 otherwise known as “The Great Reformation”.
But if you back up another 100 years you come to the man
Who is often referred to as “The Morning Star of the Reformation”
And that is a Bohemian man named Jan Hus.
• Hus was a man who entered the priesthood for the sake of money,
• But under the influence of Wycliffe was saved and became a pre-reformation
voice in the Catholic church.
• He didn’t necessarily go as far as Luther in all of his desired reforms,
• But he did especially confront immorality in the church, a lack of true
regeneration among church members,
• And he did hold a high view of Scriptural authority.
Hus was called to recant at the “Council of Constance” in 1415,
And when he refused he was convicted of heresy
And the next summer was burned at the stake.
The infamous statement that arose from Hus at his execution was, “Today you burn a goose, but in one hundred years a swan will arise which you will prove unable to boil or roast.”
Perhaps you’ve heard the statement “His goose is cooked”
Hus referred to himself as “the goose” because he was in fact from Husinec (literally “Goosetown”) and his last name “Hus” meant goose.
Many saw the statement as a prophetic call toward Martin Luther
Who would nail his 95 thesis on the door 100 years later.
Now, it is doubted that Hus every uttered those words,
Many think Luther coined the phrase, but regardless, Hus was an early voice of reform in the church even before the Reformation occurred.
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/goose/
And I tell you now about Hus
Because on the day he was burned at the stake,
Eye witnesses record that as the flames rose about him,
Hus sang a hymn.
He sang, “To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me.”
(MacArthur, John [The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Timothy; Moody Publishes, Chicago, IL; 1995] pg. 13)
You see then how well this song fits
To the soul of the one who faces great danger,
But who is entrusting everything about himself to God.
It is also strikingly familiar to the quote of our Lord on the cross which is found in Psalms 31:5 and Luke 23:46
Luke 23:46 “And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last.”
• That was the cry of Jesus as He faced death.
• It was the cry of Hus as he faced death.
• It was the cry of David here in Psalms 25 as he faced death as well.
The setting for the Psalm, though not specifically given, is clear.
It is obvious that David is in great peril of danger.
• He is facing his enemies and does not want them to exult over him. (2)
• He is in great trouble and affliction and distresses (17-18)
• His enemies have violent hatred for him (19)
• And the very fact that he is asking for protection of his soul indicates that he is
facing death. (20)
Others have also noted that it must be a Psalm written later in life
Since in verse 7 David references the sins of his youth.
And all of these together has led many to SPECULATE that
It was a Psalm written during the revolt of Absalom.
Regardless, it is written at a time when David faced death.
Now, there is something else you should know about this Psalm
And that has to do with ITS LAYOUT.
Psalms 25 is an acrostic.
Each line comes with a descending letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
(not necessarily the first word in each line, but in each line)
Now what that means for interpretation and study
Is that it makes it hard to try and break it down as an outline
Since that’s really not the way it was written.
What you glean from David here are definite themes and thoughts
That intertwine throughout the Psalm.
(If you’ve ever written an acrostic you know what I mean)
What you really get is a Psalm which in its entirety
Expresses the main desires of David’s soul.
That’s why we are calling this “The Song of the Soul”
It reflects the chief beliefs and desires of David’s soul
As he found himself in great danger and prepared himself to face death.
As we study, we relive the daily cry of the Christian soul to God.
While I definitely understand singing this song while facing death,
I honestly can’t think of a time when our souls do not cry like this to God.
This is a fitting song of the soul to God for all occasions.
We are going to break this down into 6 points.
• Each represent a very fitting cry to God regarding our soul.
#1 RECEIVE IT
Psalms 25:1-3
I don’t know if you are interested in knowing the words that David used as part of his acrostic, but I do think identifying them helps in our understanding of the main point.
So if you want to mark them, here they are.
(1) “To You”
(2) “trust”
(3) “Indeed”
These are the words that begin with the Hebrew letters, Aleph, Beth, and Gimmel
By highlighting those 3 words that David built these verses around
It becomes clear that the main thrust here in the beginning
Is that David is lifting his soul to God because he trusts God.
And obviously when you lift something to God or offer something to God
The hope is that He will receive it.
It is David’s desire to put his soul in God’s care.
“To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust,”
And you see the request that
He doesn’t want to falter and end up in shame.
And because David knows that “none of those who wait for You will be ashamed” David takes his soul to God.
On the flip side “Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.”
While others lean on their own strength and their own resources
David has chosen to lean on God.
And that is not just seen in these first 3 verses, it is seen throughout.
(5) “For You I wait all the day”
(20) “Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.”
(21) “For I wait for You”
It’s clearly a common theme throughout the song that
In regard to his soul, David is asking God to take it and care for it.
And this, by the way, is the very basis of salvation.
We yield our soul to God that He might care for it because we know that we cannot on our own.
We are not like the Pharisee who trusted in his own goodness.
Luke 18:11-12 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’”
We are not like the farmer who trusted in his wealth
Luke 12:16-21 “And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ “But God said to him, ‘ You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
We are not like the rebels in Isaiah’s day who figured that when danger arrived they’d be strong enough or fast enough to escape it.
Isaiah 30:15-17 “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top And as a signal on a hill.”
No, we are aware that our soul is far better protected
If it is in God’s care and not our own.
That is what David said.
“God, I am facing danger, and I don’t trust my own hands with the care of my soul, so I am lifting it to You”
It is the cry of the soul, that God would receive it.
We do the same.
1 Peter 4:19 “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”
That is what David is doing.
That is what Jan Hus did.
Asking God to receive their soul.
On behalf of his soul David also requests that God would:
#2 TEACH IT
Psalms 25:4-5
If you want the two words David highlighted here they are:
(4) “ways”
(5) “Lead”
• David used the word “ways” and spoke of God’s road or paths that he must learn to walk.
• And David asked God to “lead” him down that path.
Obviously the main thought on David’s mind here
Is on God teaching or directing his soul.
“Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.”
The theme is clear.
David doesn’t just lift up his soul to God for safe keeping,
But he is also asking God to make the changes that his soul needs.
And again, this isn’t the only reference.
(8) “Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.”
(9) “He leads the humble in justice”
(9) “He teaches the humble in His way”
It is a reminder that when we lift our soul to God
We lift it with the understanding that
He is about to make the necessary changes on it.
HE IS GOING TO GUIDE.
And again this is foundational to salvation.
It is the aspect of submission.
• After all, we do call Him “Lord”
• We follow Him
• We obey Him
Jesus Himself said:
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
We follow and learn.
We follow and obey.
We are not like the 3 men in Luke 9
• The one who didn’t want to follow if it wouldn’t lead to prosperity.
• The one who didn’t want to follow if it cost him prosperity.
• The one who didn’t want to follow if it cost him his reputation.
We don’t want to be those Jesus referred to in Luke 6
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
We understand that part of entrusting our soul to God
Is to obey God when He tells us where to walk.
That is why the call of the gospel
Is actually a call not just to faith but to obedience.
Those of you who have been working on the Romans devotion saw this early in Romans 1.
Romans 1:5 “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,”
It’s not just faith, but the faith that produces obedience.
In fact, a lack of obedience only indicates a lack of trust.
1 John 2:3-6 “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
David understood this.
• And so not only does he lift his soul to God,
• But he understands that part of this trusting always requires following the paths which God ordains.
David comes to the Lord in full submission.
So David requests that God would Receive his Soul, Teach his Soul
#3 FORGIVE IT
Psalms 25:6-7
The key words David highlighted in these to verses are:
(6) “Remember”
(7) “sins”
And it seems apparent that the first word inspired the second.
For David is quick to ask God to “Remember”
How compassionate and loyal He is.
“Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old.”
And then it’s as if David says, “Since we’re talking about remembering, I have something I don’t want You to remember.”
(7) “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.”
It is humility.
• It is being poor in spirit.
• It is a recognition of sinfulness.
• It is a known need for forgiveness.
In contrast to the Pharisee we looked at earlier, we also see the tax collector standing next to him.
Luke 18:13-14 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
It is a cry for God to be merciful in spite of what we deserve.
That is what David is appealing for here.
If God is going to count sins, then no one could stand.
• David’s only hope is that God deals with Him in His great mercy.
• It is an understanding of the necessity of God’s mercy in life.
And again, this is seen throughout the Psalm.
(11) “Pardon my iniquity for it is great”
(18) “And forgive all my sins”
David understands that in bringing his soul to God
That he must also ask for mercy
Due to the condition in which his soul is presented.
• His soul is not worthy.
• His soul is not clean.
AND YET David has the courage to bring his soul to God
Because he knows that God is filled with compassion and lovingkindness.
It is this understanding by which we all present our souls to God.
The understanding that it so beautifully articulated by the apostle John.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
How many times have we clung to that truth!
How many times have rejoiced in what we learn of Jesus.
Matthew 9:10-13 “Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. “But go and learn what this means: ‘ I DESIRE COMPASSION,AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
How many times have we relished in the promise of Paul.
Romans 10:13 “for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
We know that when we approach God we don’t approach in arrogance.
• We know we come sinful and stained.
• We know that we have sinned and that we are sinful.
• And we know that we need a pardon from Him.
The beauty is that when we entrust our souls to Him, He offers it!
He is a compassionate God.
So
• We entrust our souls to Him,
• We understand the necessity of obedience in doing that,
• We do it in humility knowing that we are in desperate need of a pardon if He is to accept it.
In regard to his soul, David asks God to Receive it, to Teach it, to Forgive it
#4 USE IT
Psalms 25:8-11
And here are the key words David highlights here.
(8) “Good”
(9) “leads”
(10) “All”
(11) “For Your”
All of these are pictures of the great things God does
And WHY He does them.
God is “good”
Same word we saw in Psalms 14
Psalms 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.”
Humans aren’t good, but God is.
“He instructs sinners in the way” (that is way of salvation)
“He leads the humble in justice.
“He teaches the humble His way.”
God is good to unworthy people.
So long as they humble themselves
He leads them where they do not deserve to go.
But even more important to David is WHY GOD DOES IT.
(11) “For Your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.”
Certainly David wants forgiveness,
But here he asks God to do it so that He can glorify Himself through it.
This is David, in effect saying, “God I want you to forgive me because nothing will show what a merciful and gracious God You are, than Your willingness to save a thug like me!”
You will glorify Yourself by pardoning me.
We saw that also up in verse 7
(7) “remember me, For Your goodness’ sake”
David understands that the purpose of his soul is the glory of God.
• That God receives souls
• That God teaches and trains souls
• That God forgives souls
• And that God does so for His own glory.
Didn’t Paul teach us this?
1 Timothy 1:12-17 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Paul understood that his salvation was so that God could
“demonstrate His perfect patience”
But at the heart it is an understanding that
The purpose of the salvation of my soul is the glory of God.
Do you understand that?
• You aren’t saved just for your comfort.
• You aren’t saved just so you can enjoy heaven.
• You are saved for the glory of God.
God saves sinners to prove how glorious He is.
We’ve mentioned this a lot, but Christianity is getting this wrong today.
I hear it all the time that the Christian
Puts his own worth at the center of redemption.
The thought that God’s salvation proved how valuable you are.
No, the fact that God save you proved how glorious He is.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
We are all shining testimonies
To the undeserved and unbelievable grace of God.
Our souls are meant to be put on display for God’s glory.
David knows that.
Use me God.
Here’s my soul, receive it, teach it, forgive it, and use it for Your glory.
#5 HONOR IT
Psalms 25:12-15
I know that sounds strange.
Here are the words David highlighted.
(12) “Who”
(13) “soul”
(14) “The secret”
(15) “eyes”
Now what you find here is David talking about
The benefit of being a person who fears the Lord.
You see this in verse 12.
“Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the land.”
David is saying that choosing to fear God is a good decision.
God honors those who fear Him.
Furthermore.
(14) “The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.”
“secret” there is a word that can mean “counsel”
Or in Job it is translated “friendship”
We are talking about intimacy with God.
• That those who fear God gain intimacy with Him.
• They gain knowledge of the mysteries of God.
• They receive His favor, His blessing, His counsel.
And since David fears the Lord.
He is confident that God will come to his aid.
(15) “My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net.”
David is constructing a thought here in this acrostic.
• Whose soul abides in prosperity?
• Whose soul gains friendship with God?
• Whose soul gets delivered?
The one who fears the Lord.
And David had done that.
And now he wants God to validate that.
• God, prove that trusting You was not stupid.
• God, prove that fearing You was not a waste.
This has been a major theme in this Psalm.
(2) “Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me.”
(20) “Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You”
(21) “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me”
His is asking God to vindicate his soul
And prove that fearing God is the right decision.
It is similar to the prayer of Elijah as he stood on Mt. Carmel.
1 Kings 18:36-37 “At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ” O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”
Do you catch the call for vindication there?
We talked about it in Psalms 23 when God sets a table before us in the presence of our enemies.
We read:
Colossians 3:2-4 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
We know that though we are considered fools for Christ today,
There is coming a day when our souls will have the last laugh.
And so we honor and obey and trust Him with the expectation
That a day will come when God will vindicate us.
That is what David is asking for here.
God, show the world that fearing You wasn’t stupid.
And then David has one more request for God regarding His soul
#6 GUARD IT
Psalms 25:16-22
Here are the words David highlights.
(16) “Turn”
(17) “troubles”
(18) “Look”
(19) “Look”
(20) “Guard”
(21) “integrity”
(22) “redeem”
He is asking God to turn and look at him.
To see all the trouble he is in
And to ultimately deliver him because of his integrity (purity of heart).
This is his cry, especially as he faces death.
God, as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death here, I am entrusting my soul to You. Please guard it!
“Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Look upon my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with violent hatred.”
And then the main request.
(20) “Guard my soul and deliver me”
We have often talked about this in Romans 8.
Remember where we see that God has foreknown us and predestined us and called us and justified us and therefore will certainly glorify us.
To that reality, Paul asked that great question.
“What shall we say to these things, if God is for us, who is against us?”
And then Paul went on a boast rejoicing in just how secure his soul was.
Romans 8:35-39 “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
People think about things like persecution and suffering
And the fear is that I won’t be strong enough to endure it.
What if it’s so bad that it causes me to deny Christ?
Well, if the protection of your soul
Depended upon the strength of your will
I’d say you were in a heap of trouble.
But it doesn’t.
The security of the sheep doesn’t rest upon the will of the sheep, but on the strength of the shepherd.
John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
And this is why David is entrusting his soul to God.
God, if I am to have control over my soul it will most certainly be lost,
And this is why I entrust it to You.
So Receive it, teach it, forgive it, use it for Your glory, ultimately honor it, but above all, guard it from the dangers it is about to face.
As I face the dangers of death, please keep me from falling away!
I understand why Jan Hus quoted this Psalm while burning at the stake.
• If I’m ever tied to a stake to be burned there, the last thing I want is to be in charge of keeping guard of my soul for its salvation.
• I want to toss that thing straight into the arms of Jesus where He can protect it and I don’t’ risk messing it all up in my human weakness and frailty.
That is what David is saying.
God, guard me and don’t let me blow it because You see the danger I’m in.
He wants God to take notice of his “integrity and uprightness”
That doesn’t mean David is sinless, he already admitted that.
Rather David means he is pure in heart. He’s not lying. He really trusts God.
And the final request moves beyond David to all Israel.
(22) “Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all his troubles.”
Regardless what God’s people may face,
May He be the guardian of their souls!
2 Timothy 1:12 “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
And what a song for the church to daily sing!
And through our song may we lift our souls again to God.
• That He might receive them
• That He might teach them how to walk
• That He might forgive them
• That He might use them for His glory
• That He might honor or vindicate them for fearing Him
• And ultimately that He might guard them for all eternity.
