Copyright © S P Townsend
Westhill Christian Fellowship Morning Service
Sunday 25 September 1988
THE PRINCIPLED PERSON - PSALM 25
This psalm is an acrostic psalm. In the original Hebrew the verses commence with successive letters of the alphabet. Another psalm like this is Psalm 119.
Psalm 25 alternates between supplication - i.e. earnest prayer and
entreaty addressed to the Lord - and meditation - i.e. thoughtful
consideration of the Lord and his ways.
The psalmist David comes across as a principled person, that is one whose life is based upon fundamental truths, and whose behaviour is regulated by absolute moral standards.
Today the doctrine of relativism challenges this. Relativism is the view that what is right and good varies with the situation, and from person to person. The Christian knows that Jesus calls different people in different ways and to different tasks, but nevertheless the principles by which we live and the standards by which we are measured do not change. By the way we live, and by our conversation with others, we must stand against the relativism that extends throughout our society.
1. A Surrendered Person
A person who has surrendered their life to the Lord, to live under His
authority and protection. 'My God' means not `the God that I
own and manipulate', but `the God who owns me, and on whom I totally depend'.
See verses 1-3.
2. A Seeking Person
A person who seeks for God and for His rule in his or her life.
A person who is humble and teachable. A person who doesn't believe they
have all the answers.
See verses 4,5 - show me your ways - teach me your paths -
guide me in your truth. Above all, teach me.
3. A Sorrowing Person
A person who knows his or her shortcomings and failures,
A person who recognises that no matter how principled and upright we may be,
we still fall far short of God's righteousness.
But this is a special kind of sorrow - the kind of sorrow that leads one
to God's love, God's goodness, God's forgiveness and hence to the joy
of a life changed by God's grace and power.
See verses 6,7,11.
4. A Showing Person
A person who shows others what God is like, who gives an account of God's
ways, of His demands upon us, and points others to Jesus.
See verses 8-10.
5. A Serious Person
A person who doesn't treat God or His word lightly or with contempt.
A person who knows the implications of following or rejecting the Lord,
and trembles in the light of it.
See verses 12-15.
6. A Suffering Person
A person who knows that submitting to the Lord and keeping to His ways
does not automatically guarantee freedom from hardship and distress.
Indeed the psalmist testifies that the troubles of his heart have multiplied
(verse 17). But in spite of this he is a person who knows for sure that God will
turn to him and be gracious to him,
will take away his sins,
will guard him in trouble and rescue him,
will not let him be put to shame,
will be his Refuge,
will be his Redeemer!
See verses 16-22.
Try to write an acrostic psalm yourself in the next two weeks.
Model some prayer times this week according to the pattern of supplication and meditation that David uses in this psalm.
Consider each of the six characteristics we've looked at briefly this morning, and evaluate your life in the light of them. Write down your thoughts as you do this.
Think about the effect that relativism has had on our society and culture. In what ways are people's attitudes and conversations, the media, lessons at school, behaviour at work an elsewhere affected by it. What practical things can you do to stand against relativism?
Copyright © S P Townsend