Prayer is soul-ish wandering and for me Psalm 25 exemplifies the prayer of soulish wandering.
This psalm begins (vv. 1-3) by offering one’s very heart to God and then moves to petitioning for instruction.
Soulish wandering longs for wisdom. Hence vv. 4-5:
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.
But it also longs for mercy, too. Soulish wandering does not presume upon God but waits upon God. Perhaps the psalmist knows of what he is to ask later and so gets the slate clean first. My own take is that this is more soulish wandering than plotted petition. What is noticeable is the contrast in YHWH’s faithfulness and the psalmist’s failure. Thus we read in vv. 6-7:
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 your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
Psa. 25:0 Of David.
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Psa. 25:4 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 day long.
Psa. 25:6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
Psa. 25:8 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 decrees.
Psa. 25:11 For your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
Psa. 25:13 They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Psa. 25:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
Psa. 25:19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
Psa. 25:22 Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all its troubles.
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