Psalm 25:8-11 - Mar 15, 2009

Ps 25:8-11 "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great." NIV

In verses 8-11 of Psalm 25 David continues his discussion about walking humility and receiving instruction but in these verses his focus is on the Lord and his goodness rather than on a cry for help. So many people relate to the Lord around their failings and their perception of the Lord’s anger. Their thoughts seem to follow a pattern that says something like, “I failed so I am sure that God is angry with me.” The wonderful revelation found in verse nine flows out of an opposite spirit to that kind of thinking.
David, whom we all know was not even close to being a perfect or sinless man, focuses on God’s goodness even in the midst of his imperfections. His insight into the Lord is that because the Lord is good he chooses to instruct sinners in his ways. How many of us think of the Lord like that? When you give in to temptation or fall into sin of some kind is your first thought of the goodness of God and his willingness to instruct you so that you do not fall again? David’s focus is on the Lord’s willingness to train him in his fallen state rather than quickly destroy him for having a moment of weakness.
However, David does bring this understanding into context simply by adding to this concept of God the truth that this kind of response awaits those who have a heart of humility. His thinking reflects the same understanding that James had when he said in James 4:6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." When we present to the Lord a humble heart in those times when we have failed and in the good times it brings for a response from the Lord that is very much like a father. God does not delight in judgment or punishment as so many seem to think. Our heavenly father delights to instruct the willing in the right way when he finds that their hearts are reaching out to him in weakness, admitting their need for help.
David continues on to rejoice in the ways of God for those who are obedient. “All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.” Again, David’s understanding of God is very much like a good father. His view of God is that he is loving and faithful for those who are diligent to keep God’s command. When these two passages are taken together what is abundantly clear is that God is looking upon the heart to bless those who desire to walk in obedience; helping those who fail so that next time they can succeed and blessing those who have stood the test of time and continued in a life of faithfulness to his commandments.
After all of this reflection on the goodness of God and his desire to help those who are struggling with sin it is as if David comes under conviction and he cries out, “forgive my iniquity, though it is great.” His own heart is stirred by his remembrance of God’s goodness and he gets a revelation of his own brokenness and the Lord’s willingness to forgive. It seems apparent from this and many other similar passages of scripture that the closer we look at the character and goodness of God, the more clearly we see our own sinfulness and our need for forgiveness. Look closely today on the goodness of God and let the light of his presence draw to a place of transformation as you see your need in the light of his radiance.