February 19, 2022 -- Psalm 25:1 -- To the LORD I lift up my soul

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OF DAVID.
To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
Psalm 25:1 ESV

These 11 words of the verse today are all-encompassing. David, the powerful king of Israel, is not giving himself to the conquest of his enemies, he is not focused on becoming the richest man on the planet, he is not building a statue that will commemorate his reign for ages to come—he is lifting up his soul to the LORD.

First, it is to the LORD, the Covent-making and promise-keeping God, Who has saved David; to Him, this mighty and glorious God, David is giving his life. He is yielding to Himself to the One Who is Good and Upright. He is submitting to Him, continually offering God his heart and reputation.

Second, he lifts his soul. His mind and heart, his strength and his will are focused on the Living God. Before he makes a decision he will pray. When he fails in his actions, he will confess. The trials of life batter David and challenge him to focus on everything, anything, other than God. David will not have it.

Finally, it is his soul that will be dedicated to the Living God, the One Who is strong to keep David safe. His deepest spiritual self is not dedicated to what he thinks God is—David is yielding himself to God; the High King of Heaven Who revealed Himself. David has the first five books of the Old Testament. He has written them out in his own hand and these words and revelation of God, the Living One, are his guide.

As believers in Jesus Christ these 11 words are powerfully appropriate. The LORD has fulfilled the promises He has made to His people. God the Father sent Jesus, and in Jesus Christ believers see God has kept His promises and thereafter the Spirit is given to believers so that they will be guarded in Him until Jesus returns.

Believers will be battered by all kinds of circumstances. What separates believers from the non-believers of this world is how one responds. The believer will face every trial and every storm standing on the promises of God. The believer will give his heart, promptly and sincerely, to the Living God knowing it is the God of Salvation Who rides the storm, directing it according to His holy and perfect purposes.

The atrocities of the world around us will continue. This world is convulsing and thrashing against the reign of Jesus Christ. Even so, Jesus is seated in power at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He is bringing all things into submission so that, when, at the end of time, Jesus stands and the trumpet sounds and He will return with all His holy ones. Jesus will give the kingdom, life and even death itself, all things to the Father and the Father will be all in all. The word of God is precious now because the more a believer reads, the more willingly one yields himself to the God of Victory and realizes he is kept safe by the Spirit of Power.

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
Make me know Your ways, O LORD;
   teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
   for You are the God of my salvation;
   for You I wait all the day long.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
   for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
For Your Name’s sake, O LORD,
   pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
   Him will He instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
   and his off-spring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him,
   and He makes known to them His covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
   for He will pluck my feet out of the net.
Psalm 25:1,4-5,10-14. ESV

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