journey onWord with us

Do you remember taking a road trip with your parents when you were young?  Maybe you have a trip planned with your brood this summer.  Somewhere between, “Are we there yet?” and “I have go to the bathroom,” a simple game for the car was invented, probably by some harried mother … The Alphabet Game.  It is really quite simple if you remember; each person takes a turn with a successive letter and either gives any word, color, country or sentence starting with that letter. The game was good for at least 20 miles of laughter and mind exercise for all.  Well, David had the same idea as he wrote Psalm 25; each verse began with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  It is an acrostic poem, however, David was not having fun when he sat down to pen these words.

Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
Psalm 25:19-21 (ESV)

These were the “running” years for David, constantly fleeing from King Saul who was singularly focused on killing the young future king.  David and his men lived on the land, sleeping in caves with the constant danger of Saul’s pursuit.  These were dark years for the passionate David who poured his heart, fears and discouragement out in words giving us so many of the Psalms that continue to encourage us still today.

I was struck by one phrase that David used more than once in his words, “… your steadfast love.” He is, of course, referring to God’s steadfast love for him.  The word steadfast is defined literally as fixed in place.  Other definitions I found are firm in place, resolute, unwavering and firmly established.

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
Psalm 26:6-7 (ESV)

The favorite definition I read is this, “the word steadfast implies a sureness and continuousness that may be depended upon.”  Read that one more time.  Did it hit you?  Here is something that I have been taught from my youth — and have forgotten in times of great distress — God continues to love me.  It is a sure thing that God loves me.  I can continuously depend on God … for sure!

David was reminding himself of this as he wrote these words…let these words also remind us!

David’s story can assuredly be our story!