psalm 25

Psalm 25:11-18 (NRSV)
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the Lord?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring mea out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
[1]
Lord,

We live between promise and peril. With the poet I pray, “pardon my guilt, for it is great.” Peril: the possibility that misdeeds and mistakes will ultimately lead to destruction. And promise: we live with the assurance of pardon. We live between the two.

And this amazing promise, those who walk with the Lord will abide in prosperity – some day.

But the poet is not yet living in the state of prosperity. All is not well. He writes, “I am lonely and afflicted.” His heart is troubled and he is distressed. And he is pleading for forgiveness.

Peril and promise, despair and hope, fear and faith, the poet gives it all to you Lord believing, at least hoping, that you will receive the contradictions of his heart with grace and that you will bless him with your presence.

You know the peril in which we now live and we beg your help. Restore the prosperity that you promise.

You know the despair of so many of our neighbors. Restore your hope within us.

You know the fear that distorts our ability to see the world clearly and relate to one another lovingly. Grow within us the faith that leads to salvation.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Confess your guilt and fear to God and ask for the pardon and faith that you need.
Attend to the promise of prosperity and allow that promise to grow within your heart and mind.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.



a Or The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989