Love changes things. As we think about the process of forgiveness Psalm 25:7 provides some insight. As the writer expresses his trust in the LORD (vv1-2) he also recognizes his own sinfulness (v7). He asks that the LORD would use His love as a filter when He remembers his past. All of us have things in our past, large or small, that we would not want the world to know about, that we would not want plastered on Facebook. We want a future employer, or spouse, to filter what we did in our youth, because we are different people now. Hopefully we have matured a bit! The writer wants to be taught (vv4-5) and recognizes that the LORD wants to teach (v14). He wants help with both the inner and the outer battle (vv16-19). He does not want shame to overtake him.
One of the greatest pains is when a friend betrays you. Psalm 55 records the thoughts of someone in this situation. A close friend is opposing him (vv12-14). I hear of best friends becoming business partners and then parting ways over some small matter. They lose not only the business, but their friendship as well. The turmoil expressed in this psalm, and the solution the writer seeks can speak to us today. We need to cast our cares on Him (v22), and when we do, He will sustain us. We still might lose the business and the friendship, but we will make it through.
The LORD’s work in our life is not a one-time event. We need His touch repeatedly in our lives. This is one of the messages of Psalm 85. The writer recounts past experiences before he asks for restoration again (v4). One important aspect of the LORD’s work is that righteousness is not optional (vv10-13). We can’t have restoration without right being and right living. The LORD will not bless unrighteousness. If we want the LORD’s presence and the blessings that accompany His presence, then our attitude and actions need to line up with His.
Psalm 115 gives us a good list of the things an idol is incapable of doing. To sum it up, they can do nothing. They have no power in and of themselves. The only power they have is the power we give them. For some of us our past has become an idol. We give it power to rule us now, yielding to its messages, cowering before the images and experiences. The antidote to this idolatry is found in verses 9-11. We are to trust in the LORD. This can be a very difficult task. We get wired by the past experiences in order to protect ourselves from harm. This wiring does not immediately get redone when we start of walk of faith. It takes trust and receipt of safety before the wires get rerouted. Trust the LORD.
One of the responsibilities that must be upheld is that of telling the next generation of the LORD’s work in our lives (Ps 145:4-7). Perhaps it is because we have allowed the culture to influence our statement of the Truth in a culture that labels this profession as “intolerant”. But we need to express the LORD’s gracious and compassionate nature (v8). Our culture does not need to hear condemnation of particular sins, but of the abounding grace and changing power of our Great God. They need to see the difference in our lives. If we are not different, the hypocrisy shouts louder than our bumper stickers. We need to live it so that our lives don’t block the Light of the Gospel!
The Arnold Journey 