Psalm 25: Integrity in Times of Doubt
IN PHILIP YANCEY'S thoughtful book, Disappointment with God, the writer speaks of Richard—a new and enthusiastic convert to the Christian faith. Richard studied the Bible with diligence and prayed every day. He transferred from a university to a Christian college, graduated, and went on to a Christian graduate school.
Then Richard's parents separated. Richard dropped out of school for a while to try to mend his family. He prayed constantly that God would bring his parents back together. His parents remained apart. Next Richard lost an important job. Then his fiancee jilted him. And his health began to deteriorate.
One night, Richard stayed up all night to pray. For four hours he pleaded with God to reveal himself. Nothing. Finally, Richard got up from his knees, gathered up his Bible and his theology textbooks, and went out to a backyard brick barbecue. There, in the last hours of darkness, Richard burned his books—and his faith.
Why? As Yancey said, "The theology he had learned in school and had written about in his book no longer "worked for him." He was disappointed with God. Is faith in God good only as long as it "works"?
Warming Up to God
When you are in a difficult situation, what kind of prayer are you likely to pray to God?
Read Psalm 25. »
Discovering the Word
- Psalm 25 divides into four stanzas. Give a topic-title to each (vv. 1-3, 4-7, 8-15, 16-22).
- What does it mean to "lift up" your soul to God?
- Study stanza 2. What all does David ask God to do?
- Study stanza 3. David began his prayer by saying that he trusted God. In what ways does stanza 3 show that God has integrity—and therefore ought to be trusted?
- Study stanza 4. What words and phrases here help you to understand David's current situation?
- Compare David's position, described in stanza 4, with what he hopes from God in verses 12-13. In view of the differences, what does David's prayer say about his own integrity?
Applying the Word
- Three times David uses the term remember. What would you want God to remember (and not remember) about you?
- What do you count on God to do and to be?
Responding in Prayer
Before you pray, meditate on God's character as David did. Ask God to make you a person of integrity.
For Further Study
Finding God in the Storms of Life by Bill Hybels