Promises and Patience – Psalm 25

A text – Psalm 25:1-9

25:1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
25:2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
25:3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
25:4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
25:5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
25:6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
25:7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
25:8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

A reflection:

Here is a psalmist who really wants God to keep God’s promises. And why?

The psalmist has been waiting a long time and feels that maybe God has forgotten to show up, or to defeat his enemies, or to shower the psalmist with comfort, or to keep the psalmist from shame.

This psalm is like a prayer being prayed by a person who has asked God for patience. But God does not just dole out a dollop of patience. God places the person who prays for patience into a situation where he or she has the opportunity to develop patience. A situation of waiting. Of hoping. Of not knowing.

How does the person cope, while building the habit and quality of patience? By remembering what kind of God she or he believes in. This God is trustworthy. This God is a God of truth and salvation. This God is merciful and has shown mercy before, from ages and ages. This God doesn’t hold past misdeeds against us. This God is good and upright.

The psalmist repeats all of these attributes of God so that there is something concrete to believe in, to trust. 

We want God to act on our timetable. But God has another timetable and it will happen, for sure, but when it fits God’s timetable, not ours. Humility and patience. Those are the answers. Not what we want to hear. But those are the answers.  Peace to your house while you wait.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us ways to seek to develop patience, and the knowledge that your timing is not necessarily ours. Thank you for being trustworthy and merciful and good and upright. Help us to remember that when we are beset and praying for quick delivery. Amen.