It is our duty and privilege to trustingly wait upon the Lord in adoration,
supplication and service all the days of our lives.
Those whose hearts are right with Him,
shall not err for want of heavenly direction in any time of perplexity.
Psalm 1
1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Psalm 1 – J. Vernon McGee
Psalm 25 – A Prayer for Pardon and Protection
This is an acrostic or alphabetical psalm. The verses begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, to aid the memory. So also in Psalms 9-10, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145. It repeats the same expressions several or more times, such as wait, Psalm 25:3, 5, 21; ashamed, Psalm 25:2-3, 20; and teach, Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 12.
Lift up your soul to God, that its darkness may flee before His light and your maladies be healed by His saving health. If you pray to be led and taught, be quiet and wait all the day, Psalm 25:5. The anointing that you have received is all that you require, I John 2:27. God’s holiness is no barrier but an encouragement to repentant sinners. Notice therefore, Psalm 25:8, and compare with Matthew 9:13 and Luke 15:1. What will not God do for the Name! Isaiah 63:14, 16; Ezekiel 36:22-23. For God’s secrets, see Genesis 18:17; I Corinthians 2:9, 10. Entrust God with the keeping of your soul and you will never be ashamed, Isaiah 49:23. —Through the Bible Day by Day
Psalm 25:14—The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him.
What marvellous words! They remind one of the sapphire work which the elders saw at the foot of the throne, and which was like “the body of heaven in his clearness” (Exodus 24:10).
The Secret of the Lord.—To some it is permitted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. To these the white stone is given, on which is engraven a name, which only he knows that receives it. There are secret passages of love between Christ and the believing soul, which it would not be lawful for it to utter. High fellowship: deep blessedness. Things which eye hath not seen. Jesus revealed his secrets when Judas had gone forth. “Why askest thou thus after my name,” He said to Manoah (Judges 13:18), “seeing it is secret?”
The Counsel of the Lord.—“His name shall be called… Counsellor” (Isaiah 9:6). He draws near to those that fear to grieve Him, and gives them counsel. He instructs them in the way that He chooses for them; He guides them in his truth and teaches them; He guides them in judgment; and tells them, as He did Abraham, what He is about to do.
The Friendship of the Lord.—“Ye are my friends,” said Jesus (John 15:14), “if ye do whatsoever I command you.” He longs for friends—those to whom He can tell his desires, on whom He may impose implicit confidence, and who will be so taken up with Him as to be indifferent to everything else, their one purpose to do his least bidding. Oh to be honored with the personal friendship of Jesus! It were a rare privilege to be entrusted with his secrets, and to hear Him say (John 15:15), “I call you not servants… but I have called you friends.” —Our Daily Homily