A Plea for Deliverance, Forgiveness, Divine Security, and Redemption

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 25-26

 

Psalm 25:1-2

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.

(NKJV)

 

Recent events in the news alarm us, but also serve to remind us that we, like David, need deliverance from enemies that seek to harm, or even kill us. May we remember the words of the Lord to Joshua who was about to lead Israel into the promised land, a land full of enemies, when He told Joshua to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9). The odds may seem stacked against us but with the Lord on our side, we have all we need, something David understood and stated in Psalm 25-26.

 

In Psalm 25, David begins by lifting his soul to the Lord, placing his trust in Him without shame, with shame reserved for those dealing treacherously without cause (Psalm 25:1-3). David asks the Lord to show him his paths for his life as the God of his salvation and the one he waits on all day (Psalm 25:4-5). David pleads with the Lord to remember his tender mercies and not to remember his sins and transgressions, remembering him with mercy (Psalm 25:6-7).

 

God is good and upright, teaching sinners in the Way (Psalm 25:8). The Lord guides the humble in justice, teaching them His way with His paths full of mercy and truth to those keeping his covenant (Psalm 25:9-10). David asks for pardon from his iniquities, for they are great (Psalm 25:11). Those who fear the Lord shall be taught the ways of the Lord, dwell in prosperity with their descendants inheriting the earth (Psalm 25:12-13). The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, with Him showing them His covenant (Psalm 25:14). David’s eyes are ever toward the Lord for the Lord delivers him (Psalm 25:15).

 

David is desolate and afflicted, pleading with the Lord to have mercy on him because the troubles of his heart have enlarged, asking the Lord to bring him out of his distress (Psalm 25:16-17). David asks the Lord to look upon his affliction and pain and to forgive his sins (Psalm 25:18). David has many enemies who hate him with cruel hatred and asks the lord to keep his soul and deliver him without shame, for he trusts in the Lord (Psalm 25:19-20). David concludes by asking for integrity and uprightness to preserve him because he waits on the Lord and for God to redeem Israel out of their troubles (Psalm 25:21-22).

 

In Psalm 26, David prays for divine scrutiny and redemption. David begins by asking the Lord for vindication because he has walked with integrity and trusted in the Lord and shall not slip (Psalm 26:1). He then asks the Lord to examine his mind and heart, knowing the Lord has lovingkindness and that he has walked in the Lord’s truth (Psalm 26:2-3). David knows that the examination of the Lord will show he has not sat with idolaters and hypocrites, and has hated evildoers and the wicked (Psalm 26:4-5). David will wash his hands in innocence as he goes about the Lord’s altar with a voice of thanksgiving proclaiming the Lord’s wondrous works (Psalm 26:6-7). David loves the habitation of the Lord’s house where His glory dwells (Psalm 26:8).

 

David asks that the Lord not gather his soul with sinners or his life with bloodthirsty men because these men concoct sinister schemes and are full of bribes (Psalm 26:9-10). David vows to walk with integrity and asks the Lord to redeem him and be merciful to him (Psalm 26:11). David’s foot stands in an even place with him blessing the Lord in the congregations (Psalm 26:12).

 

In these psalms, David shows us how to plead with God for deliverance and forgiveness and pray for divine scrutiny and redemption.

• Pleading with the Lord (Psalm 25) – Pleading for deliverance should begin with one acknowledging their trust in the Lord to triumph over their enemies without shame. However, one pleading with the Lord must be willing to follow the direction of the Lord in their lives (Psalm 119:105). Jesus delivered the woman caught in adultery from stoning by her accusers but commanded her to abandon the path of adultery and sin no more (John 8:1-11). Pleading for deliverance must be accompanied by one's surrendering to the Lord’s will in our lives.
• Praying for scrutiny and redemption (Psalm 26) – In 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, Paul tells the Corinthians to examine their hearts before partaking in the Lord’s Supper (communion) to avoid judgment from the Lord. Because of the mercy and grace of God, David knew he could allow the Lord to scrutinize his heart without fear. The Lord did not come to condemn us but to save us by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:17).

 

We should plead with the Lord when we need deliverance and forgiveness because the Lord has the power to deliver, and He forgave our sins on the cross. Because the Lord demonstrated love toward us on the cross, we should not fear His scrutiny of our hearts, so we can repent of any sin in our lives and experience the Lord’s redemption. A believer is not just to ask the Lord to be his or her savior and then continue in sin, but is to lose conformity with the sin of the world and be transformed (Romans 12:2). A redeemed life is not to be a life continuing in selfish and sinful gratification of the flesh but a transformed life following the enlightenment of the word of God (Psalm 119:105). If you are reading this and have never prayed to confess Jesus as the Lord of your life (Romans 10:9-10). I invite you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage you to find a church that teaches the truth of God’s Word from the Bible, so that God’s Word can transform your life by renewing your mind. May God convict, challenge, and empower everyone reading this post.