Psalm 25

¹⁶         Pay attention to me and be gracious to me,

for alone and afflicted am I.

¹⁷         The troubles of my heart are multiplied;

relieve me of my anguish.

¹⁸          Look upon my affliction and my trouble,

                                    forgive all my sins.

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Consider My Troubles

For the Lord’s Day:  the 13^th of March  2005

Introduction:  Today, we consider the fourth petition of this carefully constructed psalm.  And like the second petition in verses four to seven, the theme is forgiveness.  A comparison of the two demonstrates that the first set of verses is at the same time more general and theoretical.  Here the psalmist gets a little more specific, going beyond a mere practical application of the doctrine of sin, and argues the more personal implication that only the good Lord Himself can forgive the troubled personal life of sin.

 

Even in the greater company of many sinners, the psalmist is appalled at his lack of companionship with the Almighty.  Delitsch writes:  “To whom could he, pour forth his affliction, to whom could he unveil his inmost thoughts and feelings?  To God alone!  To Him he can bring all his complaints, to Him he can also again and again always make supplication.”

 

I am reminded of several conversion experiences, when newly aware sinners broached the subject with their still sinning peers.  What a hoot, the worldly crowd could and did have at such trifles of conscience.  After all, they could barely be sympathetic – since to do so would be an admission that they too were under the mandate of God’s divine rule.  And so, it is especially in this sense that the psalmist writes of the depression filling his heart: “ Pay attention to me and be gracious to me, for alone and afflicted am I.”

 

Again, I remember a student or two from years ago, who were suddenly confronted with a realization of sin.  One of them came straight to me from the guidance office, hoping that I would understand what the professional humanist off handedly dismissed.  Of course, with the help of God’s Spirit, I did comprehend and understand the need for confession and the seeking of forgiveness.  Evidentially, the student complained to the worldly counselor, about her stupidity and I was advised to not encourage the one unbalanced, after all – the “sins” in question were so widespread that everyone should feel guilty.  And in our day and age, all such minor deviations were now to be accepted as simple variations in behavior.

 

How little the worldly and atheistic counselors appreciate the work of the Holy Spirit here described by David.  The very personage hired to “pay attention” to the needs of the worldly pagans simply ignored the promptings of a heart being tuned to God above.  How much better are God’s people attuned to sense the slow and providential growing of grace in the heart.  Already, David’s prayer is being answered because he is aware that a life lived apart from the presence of God is a lonely one indeed.

 

Calvin notes on this passage that God’s having respect for the sinner, in the very fact of giving divine attention – that this fact of being regarded by God is “at once the cause and source of his salvation.”  Further, Calvin argues “as soon as God, of his own good pleasure” regards us, so too will “his hand be ready to help us.”

 

I once saw a poster of the end of a rope with multiple knots tied and a pair of hands barely hanging on.  This was in regards of an old proverb that advised when one got to the end of his rope, to tie a knot and hang on.  The worldly poster whined, “I’m still hanging on for dear life, but I’m almost out of rope to tie knots in, now – what do I do?”  That phrase was written large, and then down at the bottom was a simple penciled in question to be carefully considered:  “Have you considered praying to the One who is holding the other end!”

 

Development:  David of course has, and in this blessed psalm will appeal to heaven’s God for the kindness and mercy of His divine attention.  In the rest of verse sixteen we sense David’s understanding of the need for gracious consideration, all stemming from the utter lost and loneliness of his sinful condition.

 

Like the knots in my remembered poster, David is aware of the multitudinous nature of all his ongoing trials and troubles.  Earnestly, he prays:  “The troubles of my heart are multiplied; relieve me of my anguish.”  It is almost as if David has had to put up with the logistical delays of the American system of justice.  How many years do some cases play out, and given the anguish of our system, how much more sympathetic must our juries be for the long delays suffered through not only by the victims but also the criminals.  Well did the founding fathers affirm that the administration of justice in the courts should be timely as well as fair.  And I am almost of the opinion that timeliness is just as important.

 

Of course, like all sinners – David has probably delayed his hours in prayer, hoping that by doing nothing the problems, troubles and situations will get better by themselves.  In the world of professional counseling – that fact is almost the case.  A study was once done in this regard and it was discovered that in a majority of situation – individuals were actually better off without the worldly advice of the psychobabbelists!  Not so, when it comes to the divine counsel of the Almighty ruler of heaven and earth.

 

Certainly, He will be swift to judge – when His opinion is asked, but He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, waiting, ever waiting for sinners to repent and turn to Him!  Would David have relief from anguish, would he rather that sins and troubles be not multiplied – let him turn to the Lord of life and find grace, mercy and forgiveness.  Suddenly and finally – there is peace and consolation.

 

Application:  And because the Lord of life has considered, because He has looked upon His servant, therefore is the Lord’s servant blessed with salvation.  “Look upon my affliction and my trouble, forgive all my sins.”

 

In the Greek myths there was one monster, named Medusa - whose look could turn a man into stone if he were unfortunate in having gazed into her eyes at the moment she meant to freeze dry the one who dared to approach her devilish throne.

 

Ordinarily the ancients were scared of the gods and goddesses of myth.  All manner of offerings were needed to keep in their good graces.  These ancient religious icons were a burden indeed.  And ordinarily, the way to health and prosperity was to avoid gaining the attention of the gods, or at least their powerful priests who might covet any wealth honestly gotten.

 

By comparison, the Hebrew God’s rules and regulations benefited the righteous who were blessed enough to be known by Him.  This lesson was not lost on many in the ancient world, and when the news of Jesus Christ became commonly known, the former pagans, from one end of the empire to the other – tore down the old temples, chopped up the statutes and either buried them or threw then into the sea.  And why, because now they were free because of the grace and knowledge of Christ!

 

This liberating knowledge known by David and revealed in Christ has taught that part of the world willing and able to listen: that God is for us.  Further, we are to know that all of history and providence is arranged with our betterment in mind.  So this is why David earnestly prays for the loving attention of the Creator God.  “Look upon my affliction and my trouble, forgive all my sins.”

 

If you will allow, let me make one final point this morning.  When you stop to think about it, aren’t the greater majority of our afflictions and troubles directly linked either to our own sins or to those of others who would accost us for being God’s people?  Certainly, in this respect, the divine attention can be nothing but good for us in either regard.  We learn of our sin and we confess, or we come to the Lord, afflicted by His enemies and He not only saves us for all eternity but also from time to time intercedes to guide and protect those He has loved since the foundation of the world.

 

Sometimes, when I consider the beauties of these alphabetic compositions, I wonder – how much more could we have learned if the Hebrew alphabet were a few letters longer?  But, still the revelations of the Lord are always sufficient for our needs.  So let us give Him the glory, thanks and praise worthy of His great and heavenly Name.  Amen.

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PREACHING RESOURCES

Calvin, John:  Commentary on Book of Psalms.

Delitzsch, F:  Commentary on the Old Testament – Psalms.

Spurgeon, C.H:  Treasury of David.

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