Psalms 25:1-16: a reflection

1To you, LORD, I lift up my soul. 2My God, I have trusted in you. Don’t let me be shamed. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me. 3Yes, no one who waits for you will be shamed. They will be shamed who deal treacherously without cause. 4Show me your ways, LORD. Teach me your paths. 5Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. I wait for you all day long. 6LORD, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times. 7Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, LORD. 8Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way. 9He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way. 10All the paths of the LORD are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11For your name’s sake, LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. 12What man is he who fears the LORD? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose. 13His soul will dwell at ease. His offspring will inherit the land. 14The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant. 15My eyes are ever on the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 16Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.

Among the many petitions of this psalm comes a tender word about the closeness God offers to those who revere him: The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant. God is not only Lord and Judge, distant and above; he offers a friendship, a closeness, to those who fear him, sharing his counsel with them, showing them his covenant. To fear the LORD is not to be kept at a cold distance, but to be brought into a friendship with him, into a closeness in which he makes his ways and his heart known. God offers his friendship to those who revere him.

Notice what God offers those who fear him: his friendship, his closeness, his counsel. The fear of the LORD does not hold us at arm's length; it opens the way to a friendship with God, in which he shares his covenant, makes his ways known, admits us to a closeness with him. God does not merely rule those who fear him from a distance; he befriends them, shares his heart and counsel with them, shows them his covenant. To those who revere him, God offers not a cold and distant relationship, but the intimacy of friendship, a closeness in which he makes himself known. The one who fears the LORD is brought near, into his friendship.

That is worth resting in, for God offers his friendship, his closeness, to those who fear him. We can think of God only as Lord and Judge, distant and above, someone to be feared at arm's length; but the psalm says the friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him. God offers not cold distance but friendship, sharing his counsel, making his ways known, admitting us to a closeness with him. To fear God rightly is to be brought into his friendship. Do not think of God only as distant and above, keeping you at arm's length; he offers his friendship, his closeness, to those who fear him. Draw near to God in reverence, receiving the friendship he offers to those who fear him, in which he shares his counsel and makes his ways known, as the psalm says the friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him; for God offers those who revere him not cold distance but the closeness of friendship, admitting them to his counsel and making himself known to them.

Lord, among the many petitions of this psalm comes a tender word about the closeness you offer to those who revere you: the friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him; he will show them his covenant. You are not only Lord and Judge, distant and above; you offer a friendship, a closeness, to those who fear you, sharing your counsel with them, showing them your covenant. To fear you is not to be kept at a cold distance, but to be brought into a friendship with you. Show me what you offer those who fear you: your friendship, your closeness, your counsel. The fear of you does not hold me at arm's length; it opens the way to a friendship with you, in which you share your covenant, make your ways known, admit me to a closeness with you. You do not merely rule those who fear you from a distance; you befriend them. To those who revere you, you offer not a cold and distant relationship, but the intimacy of friendship. The one who fears you is brought near. Let me rest in that, for you offer your friendship, your closeness, to those who fear you. I can think of you only as Lord and Judge, distant and above, someone to be feared at arm's length; but the psalm says your friendship is with those who fear you. You offer not cold distance but friendship, sharing your counsel, making your ways known. Keep me from thinking of you only as distant and above, keeping me at arm's length; you offer your friendship to those who fear you, Lord. Help me draw near to you in reverence, receiving the friendship you offer, in which you share your counsel and make your ways known.