I could use a more professional singing group for the beautiful song Unto Thee, O Lord but I found one that I think resembles what heaven will look like. You will love it. Some of the most moving songs come straight from God’s word – this song comes from Psalm 25.
Psalm 25 is filled with wisdom on how to live right in the sight of God, how to have a penitent heart, and how to petition God for forgiveness of sins so the relationship with God can be clean and fresh. Psalm 25:7 reads, “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgression: According to Your lovingkindness remember me”. In other words, “Lord, please forgive my sins and remember them no more, but rather remember me your child as you cover me with Your lovingkindness”.
And what about Psalm 25:14. The New American Standard translates it very literal, “The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant”. The footnote hits the nail on the head with the word intimacy. We don’t just live to obey God; rather, we long to be in a personal, intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. With whom do you disclose deep, personal, secrets? Answer: with people whom you have a deep relationship. The psalmist wants that kind of experience with God.
The psalmist also teaches us how to pray with the intensity of all our heart as we encounter bad times in life. In Psalm 25 the man of God is trapped and hurting; consequently, he turns to the only one capable of delivering him – the LORD. “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you” (Psalm 25:15-20).
This psalm deserves an entire week of devotional thoughts and we would still not exhaust it, but for today, read Psalm 25 and treasure some of the beautiful statements written that speak right to who we are as children of God, humbly acknowledging God as good, powerful, and lovingly involved in our lives.
Psalm 25
To You, Lord, I lift up my soul.
My God, in You I trust,
Do not let me be ashamed;
Do not let my enemies rejoice over me.
Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed;
Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.
Make me know Your ways, Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.
Remember, Lord, Your compassion and Your faithfulness,
For they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my wrongdoings;
Remember me according to Your faithfulness,
For Your goodness’ sake, Lord.
The Lord is good and upright;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
All the paths of the Lord are faithfulness and truth
To those who comply with His covenant and His testimonies.
For the sake of Your name, Lord,
Forgive my wrongdoing, for it is great.
Who is the person who fears the Lord?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
His soul will dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants will inherit the land.
The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will make them know His covenant.
My eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will rescue my feet from the net.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.
Look at my misery and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.
Look at my enemies, for they are many,
And they hate me with violent hatred.
Guard my soul and save me;
Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
Let integrity and uprightness protect me,
For I wait for You.
Redeem Israel, God,
From all his distress.