Psalm 25:11-22

Rachel Workman: 11 For the honor of your name, O Lord,
    forgive my many, many sins.
12 Who are those who fear the Lord?
    He will show them the path they should choose.
13 They will live in prosperity,
    and their children will inherit the land.
14 The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
    He teaches them his covenant.
15 My eyes are always on the Lord,
    for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

I love how David says the Lord is a friend to those who fear him. We don't think of the Lord as being our friend often. But he's the most reliable friend we can have. He will never disappoint us or let us down. People will disappoint but God never drops the ball. I also love how David says my eyes are always on the Lord. I wish that I could say the same but I know too well it's not true.

16 Turn to me and have mercy,
    for I am alone and in deep distress.
17 My problems go from bad to worse.
    Oh, save me from them all!
18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.
    Forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have
    and how viciously they hate me!
20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
    Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
21 May integrity and honesty protect me,
    for I put my hope in you.

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John Burnett:  ¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.  For me this is the understatement of the year.

¹² Who is the man who fears the Lord?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
¹³ His soul will abide in ^[a]prosperity,  Last night, my daughter and I talked about how we wanted Jesus to come back so we can be with Him in “prosperity”.
And his ^[b]descendants will inherit the ^[c]land.
¹⁴ The ^[d]secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
^[e]And He will make them know His covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will ^[f]pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am lonely and afflicted.
^17 [g]The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.
¹⁸ Look upon my affliction and my ^[h]trouble,
And forgive all my sins. 
¹⁹ Look upon my enemies, for they are many,
And they hate me with violent hatred.
²⁰ Guard my soul and deliver me;
Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
²¹ Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.  To tell you the truth, I am tired of waiting.  The hope I have now keeps me going, knowing that the joy of being with Jesus is going to be so amazing.
²² Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all his troubles.  When this happens, we should be gone (raptured) but it means we will be coming back with him in Revelation 19.  I look forward to watching that battle and His power displayed.

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Allen Michaels:  ¹¹ For the sake of your name, Lord,
    forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

¹² Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
    He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who He is: holy, almighty, righteous, pure, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at His feet in humble respect. Only then will He show us how to choose His way.
¹³ They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their descendants will inherit the land.
¹⁴ The Lord confides in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known to them.

“The Lord confides in those who fear him;” God offers intimate and lasting friendship to those who revere Him, who hold Him in highest honor. What relationship could ever compare with having the Lord of all creation for a friend? Your everlasting friendship with God will grow as you revere Him.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the Lord,
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.

¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷ Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.

Often, problems in our life seem to only get worse. God is the only one who can reverse this downward spiral. He can take our problems and turn them into glorious victories. However, there is one necessary requirement; we, like David, must cry out, “Turn to me and be gracious to me.” When we are willing to do that, God can turn the worst into something wonderful. The next step is ours; God has already made His offer.
¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.
¹⁹ See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

²⁰ Guard my life and rescue me;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    for I take refuge in you.

²¹ May integrity and uprightness protect me,
    because my hope, Lord, is in you.

If ever we needed two powerful forces to preserve us along life’s way, they are integrity and uprightness. David asks for these to protect him step by step. Uprightness makes us learn God’s requirements and strive to fulfill them. Integrity, being what we say we are, keeps us from claiming to be upright while living as if we do not know God. Uprightness says, “This is the Shepherd’s way,” and integrity says, “I will walk consistently in it.”