Cause and Effect

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

This is another cause and effect section of verses. If we keep His covenant and his testimonies, then He will instruct us, lead us in justice, teach us His way, and pardon our iniquities – all because He is good, upright, loving, kind, and true. What is that covenant and testimonies? When the Psalm was written the Hebrews were under the Law given by God to Moses. But we are under the New Covenant of Jesus’ sacrifice and forgiveness. So what are we to do to keep this covenant? It is a covenant of faith. We are to believe and to walk in that belief. Walk “as if” it is true. We are to humble ourselves, repent, and praise. God will hold up His end because He is.

Humbling ourselves is the hardest thing we are asked to do. We must crucify the flesh and that hurts! But when we admit to another that we are sinners and what those specific sins are, we find freedom. You probably haven’t killed anyone or robbed a bank, but the heart sins are sometimes even harder to repent of, to give up, and humble ourselves over than the sins of action. But all sin is rebellion against a grace giving, merciful God who is full of compassion. He stands available and waiting.

After we have humbled ourselves and made all things right with God, then we can “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.” Psalm 25:21 That’s the neat thing about integrity – when we walk with integrity it guards us and keeps open the relationship between us and God. And then we wait for His goodness and justice.

May you know God’s grace and mercy and instruction,