Last Sonday Willie preached the 25th Psalm and mentioned that it was an acrostic psalm - meaning that each verse starte with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet - in order. Char Cole accepted his challenge to do a contemporary acrostic of Psalm 25 - and she actually did two of them. One from the Message and one from the NIV. Tonight I am going to share the Message version and will share the NIV later. Both are absolutily excellent! Way to go, Char!
A modern acrostic version from the Message
PSALM 25
1. Always my head is high, God, held high; I am looking to you, God, no hangdog
sulking for me.
2. Because I've thrown in my lot with you; you won't embarrass will you? Or let my
enemies get the best of me?
3. Can you not embarrass any of us whom went out on a limb for you. It's the
traitors who should be humiliated.
4. Demonstrate how you work, God. School me in your ways.
5. Everyday, take me by the hand; lead me down the path of truth. You are my
Savior, aren't you?
6. Forever mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God, Rebuild the ancient
landmarks!
7. Grant that you will forget that I sowed wild oats; mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, God!
8. How fair and just is God; He corrects the misdirected, and sends them in the
right direction.
9. In love, He gives the rejects His hand, and leads them step by step.
10. Just follow the Covenant signs. From now on, every road you travel will take
you to God. Read the charted directions.
11. Keep up your reputation, God; forgive my bad life; it's been a very bad life.
12. Let me ask you a question - What are God-worshipers like? Your answer;
arrows aimed at God's bull's-eye.
13. May they settle down in a promising place; their kids inherit a prosperous farm.
14. Notice that God-friendship is for God worshipers; they are the ones He confides in.
15. Only if I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet.
16. Protect me, look at me and help me! I'm all alone and in big trouble.
17. Quiet my heart and kidneys. They are fighting each other; call a truce to this civil war.
18. Really take a hard look at my life of hard labor, then lift this ton of sin.
19. See how many people have it in for me? How viciously they hate me?
20. To keep me out of trouble; keep watch over me and don't let me down when I
run to you.
21. Use all your skill to put me together; I wait to see your finished product.
22. Very soon God, give your people a break from this run of bad luck.