Thy Strong Word — Psalm 25. Keep praying saints: For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt.

Rev. John Hopkins, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hicksville, NY joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 25.

“Remember when…” we will say while with old friends. David realizes his sin and asks the LORD not to remember his sins—which we all hope, but also to remember that He is mercy. This Psalm is a prayer of a faithful person who not only seeks forgiveness, but for the LORD to lead, teach, guard, and give them refuge. Our pleas for forgiveness are not only for us as individuals, but also for others. “Christ be my Leader by night as by day; Safe through the darkness, for He is the way. Gladly I follow, my future His care, Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there” (Lutheran Service Book 861, “Christ Be My Leader”).

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

Psalm 25

Teach Me Your Paths

^[a] Of David.

25 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
²O my God, in you I trust;
    let me not be put to shame;
    let not my enemies exult over me.
³Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

⁴Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
⁵Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long.

⁶Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.
⁷Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
    according to your steadfast love remember me,
    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

⁸Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
⁹He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
¹⁰All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

¹¹For your name’s sake, O Lord,
    pardon my guilt, for it is great.
¹²Who is the man who fears the Lord?
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
¹³His soul shall abide in well-being,
    and his offspring shall inherit the land.
¹⁴The friendship^[b] of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.
¹⁵My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
    bring me out of my distresses.
¹⁸Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.

¹⁹Consider how many are my foes,
    and with what violent hatred they hate me.
²⁰Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
    Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
²¹May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
    for I wait for you.

²²Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.

Footnotes

Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
Psalm 25:14 Or The secret counsel

Rev. Brady Finnern

Rev. Brady Finnern, host of Thy Strong Word. is an expert in all things Minnesota, including hiking the great mountains of the 5th flattest state in the Union and making his own maple syrup. Although chow mein, fried ice cream, and Peanut Persian donuts with maple frosting are at the top of his foodie list, his prized possessions include his gas station refillable fountain soda cup (which, he says, the savings will pay for college for his 4 kids). Pastor Finnern's Divine Call is as President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and in addition he also enjoys traveling, coaching track, and movie nights with his wife and kids that may or may not include Shawshank Redemption or any of the Thriller movies. When he's not singing his favorite hymns or listening to his favorite metal music, you might find him working out or taking naps. (Probably naps.)