David’s meditations in the Psalms, which are essentially prayers, help us to judge the quality of our relationship with God. Are we able to meditate and pray in the same degree? Psalm 25 has some verses that both challenge and inspire. “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths” (verse 4). We are asking God to ‘make’ us! What child asks a parent to ‘make’ him or her be good? And not just once, but constantly, as a way of life!

The next verse has, “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long”. David is asking God to ‘lead him’ and ‘teach him’. The word “lead” or “guides” (AV) also appears in verse 9, “He leads the humble in what is right”. The Hebrew also has the sense of bending the bow to ‘guide’ the arrow fitted to it. David uses it in Psalm 7:12, “If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow”. In Psalm 11:2 David says, “behold, the wicked bend the bow … to shoot … at the upright in heart”.

The purpose in bending the bow, is to do it in a way that it will ‘guide’ the arrow to its intended destination. The aims of God and the aim of the ungodly are completely opposite.

In verse 5 we read, “for you I wait all the day long” and in verse 3, “Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame”. What is behind the idea of waiting? Verse 21 says, “May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for thee”. There has to be a quality of character in our waiting, and are we not waiting for the return of Christ? The original Hebrew word for ‘wait’ is interesting; in Psalm 69:20 it is translated, “I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none”. When you are waiting you are looking for something or someone!

How fascinating that the first time this word is used is in Genesis 1:9! “And God said, let the waters under the heavens be gathered together and let the dry land appear”. We are waiting for our Lord so we can be gathered together and be with him. Finally some words from Paul, “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5nAV). The ESV says “to the steadfastness of Christ”. Let us be steadfast in our patient waiting, aiming for “integrity and uprightness”.