Psalm 25:12-22 “What man is he who fears the LORD? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose. His soul will dwell at ease. His offspring will inherit the land. The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant. My eyes are ever on the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred. Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. God, redeem Israel out of all his troubles.”

Fear of the Lord = respect and awe that leads to obedience and trust. When we fear the Lord we align with His purposes and causes, and put ourselves at odds with the world.

James 4:4 “…don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility towards God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Friendship with God helps us to defeat our enemies, which may be physical, but may also include loneliness (16), broken hearts (17), regrets (18), fear (19-20), and despair (21-22). If we truly want to defeat those enemies, we need to live for God, put our trust in God, and wait patiently for God to work in our lives.

For additional worship: Psalm 25 (Show Me Your Ways) by The Psalms Project