Psalms 25:18

18 See thou my meekness and my travail (See thou my troubles and my trials); and forgive thou all my trespasses.

Psalms 25:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 25:18

Look upon mine affliction and my pain
The "affliction" was the rebellion of his subjects against him, at the head of which was his own son; and the "pain" was the uneasiness of mind it gave him; or the "labour" F11, as the word may be rendered; the toil and fatigue of body he was exercised with, he flying from place to place; and he desires that God would look upon all this with an eye of pity and compassion to him, and arise to his help and deliverance; as he looked upon the affliction of the children of Israel in Egypt, and delivered them, ( Exodus 3:7 Exodus 3:8 ) ( Deuteronomy 26:7 ) ;

and forgive all my sins;
or "lift up", "bear", or "take away" F12, as the word signifies; sins are burdens, and they lay heavy at this time on David's conscience, being brought to mind by the affliction he laboured under, not only his sin with Bathsheba, but all others; and these were on him as a heavy burden, too heavy to bear; wherefore he entreats that the Lord would lift them off, and take them away from him, by the fresh discoveries of pardoning grace to him. The sins of God's people are removed from them to Christ, by his Father, on whom they have been laid by his act of imputation; and he has bore them, and all the punishment due unto them, and, has taken them away, and made an end of them; and through the application of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, they are caused to pass from the consciences of the saints, and are removed as far from them as the east is from the west; and this is what the psalmist here desires, and this he requests with respect to all his sins, knowing well that, if one was left upon him, it would be an insupportable burden to him.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 (ylme) "laborem meum", Pagninus, Mortanus, Junius & Tremellius
F12 (avw) Heb. "tolle", Piscator; "aufer", Michaelis.

Psalms 25:18 In-Context

16 Behold thou to me, and have thou mercy on me; for I am one alone and poor. (Look thou on me, and have thou mercy on me; for I am all alone and poor.)
17 The tribulations of mine heart be multiplied; deliver thou me of my needs. (The troubles in my heart be multiplied; save thou me from all my troubles.)
18 See thou my meekness and my travail (See thou my troubles and my trials); and forgive thou all my trespasses.
19 Behold thou mine enemies, for they be multiplied; and they hate me by wicked hatred. (Look thou upon my enemies, for they be many; and they hate me with such wicked hatred.)
20 Keep thou my soul, and deliver me; be I not ashamed, for I hoped in thee. (Keep thou me alive, and save me; let me not be shamed, for I put my trust in thee.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.