“prayer for guidance and deliverance”

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to 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 day long.

Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

For your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who are they who fear the LORD?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.

They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me out of my distress.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

Consider how many are my foes
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
O guard my life and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.

Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all its troubles.

Psalm 25; NRSVue

“Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance” is the added heading title in the NRSVue. I think that’s a good summary of what is going on in this psalm.

The psalmist (attributed to David) finds themselves in deep trouble and distress. There’s no way out in their mind except through prayer and God’s answer to prayer.

The psalmist remembers past sin and senses their need for God’s mercy. Likewise the psalmist is surrounded by enemies who want to see their downfall. Likely we all have people who would be enemies. But we can also see the enemies as the principalities and powers which aren’t flesh and blood, arrayed against us.

The answer or anticipated answer to prayer is not only a deliverance so that the psalmist can go on as before. It is the anticipation of walking in godliness, in a life pleasing to God. And what is that? To be a person of integrity, doing what is just and right. And to know the friendship of God.

The end result of this? Not only personal deliverance, but a desire for the deliverance of all.