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Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024
the First Week of Advent

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Bible Commentaries
Psalms 25

PsalmsPsa 24 PsalmsPsa PsalmsPsa 33

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Verses 1-22

INTRO:
1. Imagine the best 5 layer cake. What kind did you come up with? (white on white)
  1. Did anyone think of all the layers just cake & no frosting?
  2. “Layers” infer a difference.
2. Outline: Five layers! Prayer (1-7); Meditation (8-10); Prayer (v. 11); Meditation (12-15); Prayer (16-22).
  1. In our Christian lives there should be a balance between Prayer (talking to God, in God’s presence) and Meditation (thinking about God, in God’s presence).
  2. The prayer is repetitive. We often repeat ourselves in order to emphasize something; so when we’re talking to God we can do the same.
    1. He tells God twice that he’s waiting on him (5,21);
    2. He asks for pardon 3 times (7,11,18).
3. Framework - Alphabetical Prayer, with an occasional irregularity.
  1. Deals with the pressure of his enemies; need of guidance; & the burden of guilt! {Deal with any of these?}
  2. Last verse isn’t tied in (to the Hebrew alphabet); but it lays claim for Israel what David has petitioned for himself.
    1. It turns a personal plea, into a hymn for the whole congregation!
4. Theme: The prayer is basically a cry for help, interspersed with praise. Praise to God for being the sort of God who helps those in trouble!
  1. Do you need help in making decisions for your life?
  2. What kind of people does God guide?
    1. Both of these are answered in this prayer/praise/song/cry.
FIVE LAYER PRAYER CAKE!
1. PRAYER! (1-7)
2. (3) Your not wasting time when you wait on the Lord in prayer.
  1. “On every level of life from housework to heights of prayer, in all judgment & all efforts to get things done, hurry & impatience are sure marks of the amateur.” Evelyn Underhill
3. (4) Ask - God wants to show you His ways; teach you His paths; lead you in His truths.
4. (6,7) He will show, teach, & lead those who are clean! (not perfect, just pure in heart)
  1. Read Ps.66:18,19 it applies here.
5. (6,7) Remember, remember not - God’s “remembering” is active & certain.
  1. H will remember your sins(7), or remember you(6)!
6. MEDITATION! (8-10)
7. He will show, teach, & lead those who obey. He doesn’t guide rebels.
  1. Read Ps.32:8,9 it applies here.
8. Humble - We don’t have to be perfect for God to guide us, just obedient.
  1. Humble means yielded to God.
  2. If we obey what God already has told us, then He will show us the next step.
  3. His guidance is not a spotlight; it’s a lamp that illuminates each step!
    1. Scripture? Ps.119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet & a light to my path.
    2. Explain little ceramic lamp in Israel.
9. PRAYER! (11)
10. Central point.
11. MEDITATION! (12-15)
12. (14) Secret - Did your father entrust you with some information that others weren’t privy to? {My dad where his loaded 22 was in his room, growing up. What it was like in the depression selling lil baskets of veggies for a nickel}
  1. Your heavenly Father seeks to whisper His secrets to you also.
  2. (NKJV) The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him; (NIV) The Lord confides in those who fear him; (ESV) The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him.
  3. All very good translations. “There are secret passages of love between Christ the believing soul!” (F.B.Meyer; Our Daily Homily)
  4. It is high fellowship; deep blessedness; special friendship.
    1. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. Jn.15:15
  5. Jesus longs for friends! No, not need base, desire base.
    1. Meaning those whom He can tell His desires to. Entrust His secrets to.
    2. Has God ever shared with you any of His joys?
13. Isn’t it strange when people go to a palm reader/psychic they desire to know the future, rather than to know the God of the future.
  1. If they could really talk to this “super-being” why wouldn’t they ever want to know Him? (e.i. No personality? Just a Tevo God, except inside of rewind, He/it can go forward)
14. The white stone of Rev.2:17, a new name written no one knows except him who receives it...Shhh it’s a Secret!
15. PRAYER! (16-22)
16. (21) Wait - this one word marked a big difference between David & Saul.
  1. See 1 Sam.26:10; 13:8-14. [David waited on God]
17. Ps: He didn’t have his prayer answered yet.
  1. It doesn’t end like almost every Christian movie, where everything ends well.
  2. No, it ends with confidence in God even when He hasn’t answered yet.

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Verses 1-22

INTRO:
1. Imagine the best 5 layer cake. What kind did you come up with? (white on white)
  1. Did anyone think of all the layers just cake & no frosting?
  2. “Layers” infer a difference.
2. Outline: Five layers! Prayer (1-7); Meditation (8-10); Prayer (v. 11); Meditation (12-15); Prayer (16-22).
  1. In our Christian lives there should be a balance between Prayer (talking to God, in God’s presence) and Meditation (thinking about God, in God’s presence).
  2. The prayer is repetitive. We often repeat ourselves in order to emphasize something; so when we’re talking to God we can do the same.
    1. He tells God twice that he’s waiting on him (5,21);
    2. He asks for pardon 3 times (7,11,18).
3. Framework - Alphabetical Prayer, with an occasional irregularity.
  1. Deals with the pressure of his enemies; need of guidance; & the burden of guilt! {Deal with any of these?}
  2. Last verse isn’t tied in (to the Hebrew alphabet); but it lays claim for Israel what David has petitioned for himself.
    1. It turns a personal plea, into a hymn for the whole congregation!
4. Theme: The prayer is basically a cry for help, interspersed with praise. Praise to God for being the sort of God who helps those in trouble!
  1. Do you need help in making decisions for your life?
  2. What kind of people does God guide?
    1. Both of these are answered in this prayer/praise/song/cry.
FIVE LAYER PRAYER CAKE!
1. PRAYER! (1-7)
2. (3) Your not wasting time when you wait on the Lord in prayer.
  1. “On every level of life from housework to heights of prayer, in all judgment & all efforts to get things done, hurry & impatience are sure marks of the amateur.” Evelyn Underhill
3. (4) Ask - God wants to show you His ways; teach you His paths; lead you in His truths.
4. (6,7) He will show, teach, & lead those who are clean! (not perfect, just pure in heart)
  1. Read Ps.66:18,19 it applies here.
5. (6,7) Remember, remember not - God’s “remembering” is active & certain.
  1. H will remember your sins(7), or remember you(6)!
6. MEDITATION! (8-10)
7. He will show, teach, & lead those who obey. He doesn’t guide rebels.
  1. Read Ps.32:8,9 it applies here.
8. Humble - We don’t have to be perfect for God to guide us, just obedient.
  1. Humble means yielded to God.
  2. If we obey what God already has told us, then He will show us the next step.
  3. His guidance is not a spotlight; it’s a lamp that illuminates each step!
    1. Scripture? Ps.119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet & a light to my path.
    2. Explain little ceramic lamp in Israel.
9. PRAYER! (11)
10. Central point.
11. MEDITATION! (12-15)
12. (14) Secret - Did your father entrust you with some information that others weren’t privy to? {My dad where his loaded 22 was in his room, growing up. What it was like in the depression selling lil baskets of veggies for a nickel}
  1. Your heavenly Father seeks to whisper His secrets to you also.
  2. (NKJV) The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him; (NIV) The Lord confides in those who fear him; (ESV) The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him.
  3. All very good translations. “There are secret passages of love between Christ the believing soul!” (F.B.Meyer; Our Daily Homily)
  4. It is high fellowship; deep blessedness; special friendship.
    1. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. Jn.15:15
  5. Jesus longs for friends! No, not need base, desire base.
    1. Meaning those whom He can tell His desires to. Entrust His secrets to.
    2. Has God ever shared with you any of His joys?
13. Isn’t it strange when people go to a palm reader/psychic they desire to know the future, rather than to know the God of the future.
  1. If they could really talk to this “super-being” why wouldn’t they ever want to know Him? (e.i. No personality? Just a Tevo God, except inside of rewind, He/it can go forward)
14. The white stone of Rev.2:17, a new name written no one knows except him who receives it...Shhh it’s a Secret!
15. PRAYER! (16-22)
16. (21) Wait - this one word marked a big difference between David & Saul.
  1. See 1 Sam.26:10; 13:8-14. [David waited on God]
17. Ps: He didn’t have his prayer answered yet.
  1. It doesn’t end like almost every Christian movie, where everything ends well.
  2. No, it ends with confidence in God even when He hasn’t answered yet.

return to 'Top of Page'

PsalmsPsa 24 PsalmsPsa PsalmsPsa 33

Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Psalms 25". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/psalms-25.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesPsalms 25

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-22

Verses 1-22

Bible Commentaries
Psalms 25