Unto Thee O Lord, I Lift Up My Soul. Psalm 25:1-2












Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in thee:
let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
-Psalm 25:1-2 (KJV)

Psalm 25 is about:
-Dependence on the Lord (CSB)
-A Prayer for Help and Forgiveness (ISV)
-Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance (NRSV)



I grew up with this song, based on Psalm 25:

Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul
Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul
Oh my God, I trust in Thee,
Let me not be ashamed
Let not mine enemies triumph over me





"Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul."

Saint Cyprian said, that in the primitive times, the minister would prepare the people's minds to pray, by prefacing, "Sursum corda", "Lift up your hearts."
There is a saying, "A prayer without the intention of the affection is like a body without a soul."
-John Trapp




Lifting up your soul is an act of affection towards God.

God designed us to live in his affection.

Authentic prayer is affectionate towards God.

"I appeal to you", means I affectionately get in your face.

"I want face-time, here I am."

Literally, "This is what I'm waiting for."




The context of Psalm 25 might have been some sort of crisis, Something is happening that drives David to prayer:

"My God, I trust in you.
Do not let me be disgraced;
do not let my enemies gloat over me."



Something threatens to bring shame upon him, and he says, "Let it not be!"
"My God, I TRUST in you."
















The attitude of trust is key.

Trust signifies dependence and hope based upon the covenant character of God.

We trust because God is faithful as the God of the covenant promises.

We trust because those who have trusted in the past have experienced the presence and help of God.

Trust is neither naive nor misplaced confidence, nor is it self-confidence.

It is a human response to God's self-revelation.

-Peter C. Craige
"Do not let me be disgraced. Do not let my enemies gloat over me."



In crisis, our trust in God is mixed with anxiety.

The enemy is watching and awaiting the outcome.

We pray raw prayers.

Total honesty.


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