The calendar has turned with the focus on the Christmas season. I think that we can all agree that it’s okay to have the Christmas decorations out now, right? This season is actually a culmination of two seasons: Advent and Christmas. Both of these are filled with joyful expectation. During Advent, we look forward to the birth of the Savior. On Christmas, we celebrate the fact that He did come and marvel at all the ways He exceeds our expectations.

Since we are in the Advent season, we are beginning a new series called Joyful Expectation. In this series, we will look at some of the expectations that Christ’s coming has brought to us, and how they lead us to what we all would like: joy.

We will begin this series by looking at Psalm 25. The salvation that the LORD has given to us is the greatest gift that we could ever receive. We receive this wonderful gift by trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. This salvation can come to us in no other way.

When we talk about trust, I understand that can be a touchy topic. Trust is not something that we just freely give to just anyone or anything. In order for us to trust in someone or something, there has to be some proof that it will do what it says. We will see from Psalm 25 that the LORD is a sure and confident place where we can put our trust.

‌The Placement of Our Trust

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed

​Psalm 25:1–3 NASB

David wrote this psalm to be sung by God’s people as a reminder of His trustworthiness. He begins this psalm by showing us the proper place to put our trust: in the plan of the LORD.

The plan of the LORD is that He would send a Savior who would live the life that we were to live so that He could die that we were to die because of our sins. The LORD tells about this plan way back in Genesis 3:15 when He tells the Serpent that the seed of the woman would crush his head.

Christmas was always part of the LORD’s plan. Christmas is not about decorations and presents. It is about the promised Savior coming to make a way for us to be brought back to God.

In verse 1, David says “I lift up my soul.” This is an important picture here. It is a sign of complete submission and trust in another. In the Jewish world, many times people would pray with their arms lifted to heaven much like a child reaches up for a parent.

What or who are we lifting our arms to? When times get rough, who or what do we reach out to for comfort and help? David says in verse 3 that “none of those who wait for the LORD will be ashamed.” He is able to say this because He knows the LORD is able and will have the final say.

‌The Growth of Our Trust

Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

​Psalm 25:4–7 NASB

In the next section of this psalm, David shows us that as we place our trust in the LORD and His plan, our trust will grow as He shows Himself faithful. One of the greatest ways that our trust in the LORD grows is through studying and understanding His word.

It is through the word that we come to know more about the LORD and His ways. This leads us to being able to trust Him more. His word is truth.

The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

​Psalm 119:160 NASB

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

​John 17:17 NASB

It is through the word of God that we are taught about what our needs truly are. The word reveals to us the sin that lies within our hearts and the inability we have to make it right on our own. It is the word that shows us we need a Savior.

In verses 6-7, David reminds us that through His word, we learn more about some of the great gifts the LORD has blessed us with: compassion, love, and mercy.

I know that life has a way of getting busy and full many times. We all have to be good managers of our time, or someone/something else will determine it for us. If we want to know more about who the LORD is and if we can trust Him, allow Him to reveal Himself more to us through His word.

‌The Result of Our Trust

Trust is an investment that we all make. When we put our trust in someone or something, we expect them to produce results. What are the results of us truly trusting in the LORD and His plan? David writes about this is in verses 8-11.

Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

​Psalm 25:8–11 NASB

‌He puts us on a new path

The first result that we see when we trust in the LORD and His plan is that He puts us on a new path. Verse 8 says that the LORD will instruct sinners in the way.

No one likes to be lost. We all like to know that we are going in the right direction and will arrive at the intended destination. Because of our sin, we are on a path that leads to the LORD’s judgment and wrath. When we trust in the LORD and His plan, He puts us on a new path that leads away from His wrath and into His presence for eternity.

This new path is a path of His lovingkindness and truth (v 10). We can be sure that in following Jesus, He will walk with us every step of the way and guide us by the Holy Spirit to where we need to be.

This new path is also a path of forgiveness. David cries out in verse 11 to “pardon my iniquity.” Iniquity is another word for sin. When we choose to trust in the LORD, we find that there is forgiveness waiting for us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

​1 John 1:9 NASB

Our sin can be a weight that weighs us down and chokes the life out of us. It doesn’t have to be. Jesus came and gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. He took on the penalty that was meant for us so that we do not have to take it.

One final point about this new path is that it leads us to the presence of our Creator. Don’t get me wrong, the forgiveness offered along this path is wonderful and needed. The guidance of love and truth is so comforting. But those aren’t the destination. The destination behind the LORD’s plan is to bring us to Himself so that we might enjoy Him forever. There is only one path that leads to that destination. It is a narrow path, and it only goes through faith/trust in Jesus alone.

‌Conclusion

As we begin this Advent season of celebrating the LORD’s first coming, may we be encouraged to trust the LORD and His plan for salvation. It is a plan of salvation for eternity but also for the day-to-day. He has proven that He is reliable. He has never failed one person who has trusted in Him, and He never will – to do so would go completely against His nature.

This Advent season, let us trust in the LORD as we celebrate His goodness toward us.