Text:

"1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. 6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! 8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. 12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 13 His soul shall abide in well being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. 14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. 15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. 18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. 20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles."

​

Lexicon:

vs. 1 - lift up (nasa') - "to accept, to carry away, to take up, to lift up the hand, to cast the eyes upon any person, to lift up the voice, to lift up the head, to lift up the soul (anxiously to long for the aid of God)"

​

vs. 2 - trust (batach) - "to have confidence in, to be bold, to be secure, to be careless, to hope"

​

vs. 2 - put to shame (buwsh) - "to be disappointed, to be disconcerted, to fail in hope and expectation, to disgrace, refers to a mind that is troubled and confused"

​

vs. 3 - wait (qavah) - "to look for, to hope, to expect, to bind together"

​

vs. 4 - know (yada') - "to ascertain by seeing, to find out and discern, to know a person, to be aware of, to experience, to turn the mind to something"

​

vs. 5 - lead me (darak) - "to tread with the feet, to march, to walk, to string a bow"

​

vs. 5 - teach me (lamad) - "to chastise, to discipline, to be trained for war"

​

vs. 6 - remember (zakar) - "to recall, to call to mind, to mark, to be mindful, to think on, to be remembered before God, to consider"

​

vs. 9 - his way (derek) - "journey, path, course of life, mode of action, a way of living or acting, the mode of worshiping God"

​

vs. 11 - name's sake (shem) - "reputation, fame, glory, a celebrated name, a good name, the glory of God"

​

vs. 13 - well being (towb) - "benefit, welfare, a good thing, pleasant, agreeable, happy, cheerful, merry"

​

vs. 14 - friendship (cowd) - "council, secret counsel, circle of familiar friends, company, intimacy with God, familiar converse, couch or cushion on which a person reclines (hence, sitting together)"

​

vs. 15 - pluck (yatsa') - "to lead out, to bring out, to deliver, to carry out, to cause to come forth"

​

vs. 15 - net (reshethI) - "as a trap for man, of judgment, for catching, of leaders leading people to sin"

​

vs. 20 - guard (shamar) - "to keep, to protect, to preserve, to hedge about as with thorns"

​

What does this reveal about God's character?

God is a God who knows us and longs for us to know Him.  He values relationship with His children.  Day-in, day-out relationship - intimacy and familiarity.  God is our leader and teacher.  He prepares us for war against the enemy and is our fierce leader into battle.  He guides us on the path we should follow.  God is mindful of us. He considers and thinks on us - we are not forgotten.  God is our deliverer.  He carries us and brings us out of trouble and sin into His loving and secure arms.  He protects and preserves us and acts as a hedge about us.

​

Questions:

1) Do I lift up my soul to the Lord, allowing Him to carry my burdens and aid me in my circumstances?

​

2) In what ways do I display trust in God?  Adversely, in what ways do I exhibit a distrust of God?

​

3) Am I receptive to the leading of the Lord?  Is there any direction He is currently calling me to go that I have not responded to with a resounding <YES!>?

​

4) Do I have relationship with the Lord?  Can I call Him friend?  If not, and you would like to enter into a close relationship with your Maker, please visit our Resources page for a prayer you can pray to know Jesus.

​

5) If I am in relationship with Jesus, do I spend time with Him regularly?  Are we close friends who can sit together?  Is there a familiarity and intimacy with Him?

​

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for this uplifting psalm.  Your Word reminds me of who you are and all you are able to do.  Thank you for being mindful of me.  I value my relationship with you and ask you to bless it and take me deeper still.  I ask you to bless the time I spend with you.  Open my eyes to your Word.  Open my ears to what you are speaking to me.  Open my mind to what you are teaching me.  Open my heart to what you are calling me.  Equip me for battle against the enemy.  Strengthen my heart and mind to combat the tactics of Satan. Lead and guide me down the path you have prepared for me.  Where you call, I will go.  Help me to trust in you more each day, and teach me what that looks like in every situation and circumstance I encounter.  I choose you every time.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!