SETTING YOUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE
PSALM 25:1-22
PSALM 25:1-22
Colossians 3:2, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Introduction:
“David is pictured in this Psalm as in a faithful miniature. His holy trust, his many conflicts, his great transgression, his bitter repentance, and his deep distresses are all here; so that we see the very heart of ‘the man after God’s own heart.’” Charles Spurgeon.
“This psalm is full of devout affection to God, the out goings of holy desires towards his favour and grace and the lively actings of faith in his promises.” Matthew Henry.
I. TO YOU LORD, I LIFT UP MY SOUL
A. I trust in thee, vv. 1-3; Ps 143:8, “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”
1. David began his day in prayer, Psalm 59:16, “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.”
2. He lifted up his soul (heart) to the Lord and not just his eyes and hands, Lamentations 3:41, “Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”
a. Let me not be ashamed, v. 2; Psalm 142:6, “Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.”
b. Let none that wait on thee be ashamed, v. 3; Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
“Suffering enlarges the heart by creating the power to sympathize. If we pray eagerly for ourselves, we shall not long be able to forget our fellow sufferers. None pity the poor like those who have been or are still poor, none have such tenderness for the sick as those who have been long in ill health themselves.” —Spurgeon
B. Shew me thy ways, vv. 4-5; Psalm 5:8, “Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.”
1. Teach me, v. 4; Psalm 27:11, “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”
2. Lead me in thy truth, v. 5; Psalm 43:3, “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.”
II. REMEMBER, O LORD,..
A. Your tender mercies, v. 6; Psalm 136:23, “Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:”
B. Your loving kindnesses, v. 6, Psalm 40:11, “Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.”
C. But not the sins of my youth or my transgressions, v. 7; Psalm 79:8, “O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.”
“The world winks at the sins of younger men, and yet they are none so little after all; the bones of our youthful feastings at Satan’s table will stick painfully in our throats when we are old men.” Spurgeon
III. GOOD AND UPRIGHT IS THE LORD
A. He will teach sinners the way, v. 8; Psalm 149:4, “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.”
1. “The way” begins with a rebuke, Proverbs 1:23, “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”
2. Then salvation by faith in Christ, John 6:45, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
B. The penitent (meek) He will guide, vv. 9-11; Psalm 18:25-26, “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26- With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.”
1. God teaches him to walk in His way, v. 9; Micah 4:2, “And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
a. He will teach man that way that he should choose, v. 12; Proverbs 2:5, “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”
“Those whose hearts are right shall not err for want of heavenly direction. Where God sanctifies the heart he enlightens the head.” Spurgeon
b. His paths we will walk, Isaiah 2:3, “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
2. God forgives sin for His Glory, v. 11; Psalm 79:9, “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.”
a. The Lord does not forsake those that know His name, Psalm 9:10, “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
b. He purges away our sins, Psalm 79:9, “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.”
CONCLUSION