Psalm 25
Matthew 21: 28-32
Unlike most psalms, our psalm-singer is not pleading for assistance to overcome enemy hostilities. Rather, verse 7 indicates he feels he has erred through sin and is seeking guidance from the Lord. Because he states his desire to know the Lord’s ways and precepts, we can assume he is also willing to obey them once he understands them. Through Hebrew syntax, the last several verses might be paraphrased as follows: “Lord, if you teach me your ways, and allow me into your inner circle, I will be able to live with absolute integrity” (4, 5).
As far as the Father’s request to his sons: one son says, “I ain’t going” but does. The other says, “Oh, sure, Pops, right on it,” but does not go. Each selfish son is at fault; one tries to get Dad off his back so he could do what he wants, the other decides to assert his free will and independence.
Both the psalm and the gospel center on the topic of obedience. Our response to a request often has more to do with who is asking and not what is being asked of us. If we do not like or respect the requester, we may be resentful, irritated, and disobedient. But like our psalm-singer, if we love and trust the requester, we are more apt to joyfully comply.
If we contemplate the psalm-gospel connection, we understand we are able to live with greater integrity and joy if Father, Son and Holy Spirit are our close companions, members of our inner circle. We might realize that Jesus intercedes for us, so that we have the disposition of heart to know and trust, to love and obey our Father.
Journal Questions:
- Do I consider myself obedient? Who am I apt to obey? Whom do I resist?
- When I am asked to do something: do I first consider the task or the person asking me?
- Are Father, Son and Holy Spirit in my inner circle? Do I want anything to be different?
- For me, how does personal integrity and wholeness connect to obedience to the Lord?
References: Refer to blog post entitled Resources
© 2017 Marilyn MacArthur, all rights reserved
Writing to Pray 