Psalm 25:6

 

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.

This chapter, like many Psalms, is written by King David.  He is well known for his desire to know God, to understand His word, and to walk in His ways.  He is not perfect by any standard, but he loves God and God loves him.  In Psalm 25, King David lifts a prayer of trust to God.  He is being pursued by some of his enemies, as he often is, but he doesn't pray for victory.  He just prays that he would not be humiliated.   In fact, when he tries to think of something that he can say from his past that might convince God to hear his prayers, he remembers and then asks God NOT to remember.  😓 He has learned the hard lesson that shame comes when he has acted rashly in sin instead of waiting on God.  So, he asks God to MAKE him know His ways.  King David asks God to teach, lead, instruct, pardon, rescue, deliver him.  God's answer is not contingent on anything King David has done, but it hinges completely on God's promise of steadfast, merciful, ancient, unchanging love.  

Does anyone have any cringeworthy  memories?  I hope I'm not the only one who has moments that I can barely stand to look back on without almost dying of embarrassment all over again!!  I completely relate to David when he says "remember NOT the sins of my youth".  When the attention is on us and our sin, we don't have a hope in the world for rescue, deliverance, or restoration.  Just shame.  So like David, we pivot.  We turn the attention back to the only One who can make all things new.  When we can't keep a promise from one day (hour, minute, second...) to the next, God can.  And He does.  And He always will.  From ancient days to eternity future, every single path He leads us on is paved with  unwavering, stubborn love and faithfulness toward those who love Him and keep His ways.  (vs 10) LORD, make us know your ways, teach us your paths; lead us--we are here for it--because you are the God who saves us.