In you I trust, O Lord my God

In you I trust, O Lord my God Psalm 25, Mark 1: 9-15 Psalm 25, our first reading, is a psalm which was written by King David, and written by a David who, it's clear, was aware of the fact that his life was a journey. But not a journey like the journey which we for instance might undertake in our cars where, even though we may have never been to our destination before, we've the route planned out beforehand or else our satnav primed with the relevant postcode. No the journey that David saw stretching out before him had no discernable end - he didn't know what the future held in store for him. He could only see the immediate present; and even that wasn't always very clear or understandable for him. But then isn't that what life is like for all of us anyway? How could any of us ever have imagined when we were starting out on the journey that we'd be where we are today, how could any of us a year ago have imagined all that has happened to the whole world in the last 12 months? And, as for the future, do we have any real certainty over the things that are going to happen to us, the experiences that we'll have, over the rest of our lives. No of course not; although, to hear some people talk, you'd think that that was the case ... for them anyway. Lots of plans and goals, the future carefully mapped out; an organised life's itinerary. But life's just not like that, something that perhaps we're now aware of like never before. No, life, for the most part's a mystery just as it would be for the disciples of Jesus as he lived with them, taught them, and especially as he led them towards Jerusalem on his, final, journey. A mystery that would become clearer but ever more frightening the closer they came to its predicted end. But then Jesus was to be fully aware of their unease and he would have the comfort and encouragement to give them, if they were open to it. Didn't he say to them (John chapter 14 verse 1): "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me". And then, in John chapter 16 verse 33: "I have told you all these things" (that is his words concerning his death and what would follow) "so that in me you may have peace". Through trust in God the Father and in the words of Jesus his son, then, there's the promise of peace of heart and mind. And surely this is just what was in the forefront of David's mind as he penned this psalm, Psalm 25. As he prays: "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God". David had received God's commission when, back in 1 Samuel, chapter 16, the prophet Samuel had anointed him as King. And he was determined to be obedient to that calling, to serve the Lord faithfully. And yet his life was far from easy. There'd been the fight for example with the Philistine giant, Goliath; there'd been the jealousy of King Saul that meant that eventually he'd had to flee into exile a hunted man; there was his God given task to defeat the Philistines and expand the Israelite empire, and then there were all those problems with his family. However there was one thing that David had learned through all this, and that was that he couldn't do it on his own, and in fact when he did try to go it alone he invariably got himself into trouble. Just as he did when he decided that it would be a good idea to take a break from leading his army into battle - that was when his eye was caught by the wife of Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba ... and how many problems followed on from that! No, by now David, as he writes this Psalm, has realised that his life will only make sense, will only be what God intends it to be, if he puts his trust in God and in him alone. Anything else and he'll be put to shame (verses 2 and 3 of our Psalm), just like those who want nothing to do with God. How can it be otherwise when the path of life is so uncertain, and mankind's grasp of it so poor? And so he begs the Lord to help him ... "I'm going to go the ways that you've called me to go Lord God, he says, so you must show me what those ways are, you must teach me your paths". You see David knows from experience that God, when he seeks him with all his heart, does answer his prayers. And perhaps also he remembers the words of Moses to the people of Israel found in Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 29 where, after telling them that because of their Godless ways they'll be driven out of the land to live amongst the nations, Moses then says: "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul"; a promise from God that applies to all his people, at all times. A promise that of course also applies to us today. And yet how often do we tread water in a sea of uncertainty, hardly able to keep our head above water, because we're looking for answers to our problems and fears, for our support and encouragement, from others rather than from God? And even when we acknowledge that the Lord is the one who has the answers, the power to change our circumstances. That he's the one with the love and concern for us which make him ready to take all our burdens upon himself. How often, even then, do we firstly seek the advice or help of others before going directly to him? Perhaps never going directly to him. Not so for David who says: "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long". You see, for him, all day, every day, God is the first port of call. But what does it mean for David to be putting his hope in God all day long, that the Lord will guide him in truth and teach him his paths? Does he have some sort of expectation that God is going to somehow reach down and change everything for him, or else place into his mind the answer that he's looking for? Well things like that do happen of course ... the sudden unexpected change in our circumstances, or that inner prompting that's telling us: "Go this way" or "do that thing". But they don't happen very often. It's hardly a reason to "hope in (God) all day long" is it? So, what is the reason for his sure hope? Well we have it in verse 6 of our psalm, where David continues to pray: "Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old." And how does David know of these things from long ago? Well because it's all there in the Scriptures, in God's word of revelation to his people. And David knows those Scriptures, he's read of God's dealings with Israel throughout her history beginning with Abraham the Grandfather of Jacob, and going back even before that to the beginning of Genesis. He's studied those words, and like the writer of Psalm 119 verse 11 he's hidden God's word in his heart so that he might not sin against him. This then, for David, is the secret of discerning God's plan, his paths, his will for us ... having a knowledge and understanding of God's Word which becomes ever greater as he continues to study it. And if we want to be directed and guided in our Christian walk, today, tomorrow, and in the days to come, well God's already given us the instructions and they're here in our Bible! But we need to read them or they'll do us no good. God has given us such a rich treasury of truth to enjoy because of his gracious love for us. A treasury that will increase our trust, that will shower us with blessings. And yet how lightly we so often treat his Word! How often we neglect to read and study it! Not so for David though. Rather, he knows the Lord intimately because of his love for, and commitment to, his Word. A knowledge that he reveals in verses 8 to 15 of his psalm. He knows that God is righteous and good, verse 8, such that "he instructs sinners in his ways". And that He alone has the power and authority to do just that, precisely because he's righteous and good. And he knows too that God leads the humble; those who don't put their trust in their own abilities but look to Him to guide and teach them; those who remain faithful to him and obey his commands; those who revere and fear him. As such people look to him for their help, David says, the Lord will rescue them from danger (verse 15). But how does David know for sure that all these things about God are actually true? Well because he's put them to the test of experience and, as a result, he's become convinced that the Lord is who he says he is, that he is never changing and always faithful to his promises. And so, because of these qualities of God, David is now able to call him: "my God", and to trust him implicitly to rule over every aspect of his life. Now we might say: that's all well and good but then David was a king wasn't he? What did he know about the kind of life that I live? And anyway everything was so much simpler all those years ago, he couldn't possibly have had the same sort of problems that someone like me in the 21st century has, that someone like me in the Covid era has. No? Well just what were the problems that blighted his walk which he was willing to trust the Lord with? Firstly, we read, there were those enemies that were gloating over him (verse 2); those hostile forces that were determined to knock him off the path that he'd so faithfully set out on. Trials such as we're all likely to face to some degree when we set out afresh having decided that we're definitely going to go into the unknown where Jesus is calling us. For example, circumstances begin to go against us, or there're attacks on our health or on the health of those close to us, or there are those who simply make life difficult for us. These are the forces without that threaten us. But then, secondly, there are the many forces within which also threaten, and which David also speaks of here. For example, there's that sense of shame that comes upon us when we blunder off in the wrong direction rather than seeking and following God's plan for us. There are those past mistakes and downright wilful sins that prey on our minds and hold us back now (verse 7). There are those feelings of loneliness and of our sheer inadequacy for the task, too, (verse 16) which are apt to come upon us at times when we're walking the way of Christ, walking in a way that's opposite to the world, the way of humility and obedience. Feelings that are saying to us: why don't you just give up, or at least don't be so enthusiastic about it, don't risk being seen as being different. And then there are all the many other worries and troubles of the heart (verse 17) which prey upon the mind as we're looking to follow and be obedient to our Lord. Things like: am I sure that this is the right way, what if I'm wrong, how do I really know that I can trust God and his word, and, why would he be bothered with me anyway? These are all things, all difficulties, which David faced as he walked the Lord's path, whilst not knowing where that path was leading him. And don't they sum up our own position, our experience, too? But then because he knew the Lord and his Word David was able to continue to follow Him with confidence. So, is that assurance then not there for us as well? For us to put our trust fully in him? Well, of course it is! The way of the cross, the way of humble obedience to the Father, the way of sacrifice, was the way that Jesus began in the desert and continued to tread as he left the place of tempting and made his way inexorably towards Jerusalem. He knew that this was the right way, the only way, God's way, the way of blessing and salvation for humanity, and yet a way whose difficulty no person can ever begin to imagine. And his disciples were also to tread that way, following Christ who was leading them, going on ahead, bearing the pain and suffering on their behalf, turning the darkness of their ignorance into the light of understanding. And, as we ourselves begin to look again towards Easter, and think what it means to us, surely the call is for us, each of us, to also walk in the footprints of our Lord, of David, and of countless disciples down through the ages. To walk the way of obedience, of humility and of reverence, and of trust in him who is fully trustworthy. Because to do anything else, to go our own way or to follow some other Lord would simply be sheer foolishness. Like walking a dark and dangerous path with no idea where it leads, or what those dangers are. But then looking to Christ Jesus our Lord, we can walk ahead safely. Not because we now know the way, because for us everything is now clear and certain, but because, as we read and think on his words of promise, and as we remember his constant faithfulness to those promises, we'll know that there's solid ground under our feet that will never give way. And we'll find that our love for him and our confidence in him will grow. And that we, like David, will then be able to pray: "To you, O lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God". May this be true of each of us, now and always. Amen