Psalms 25

1 To you, O Lord, I offer my prayer;

2 in you, my God, I trust. Save me from the shame of defeat; don't let my enemies gloat over me!

3 Defeat does not come to those who trust in you, but to those who are quick to rebel against you.

4 Teach me your ways, O Lord; make them known to me.

5 Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me. I always trust in you.

6 Remember, O Lord, your kindness and constant love which you have shown from long ago.

7 Forgive the sins and errors of my youth. In your constant love and goodness, remember me, Lord!

8 Because the Lord is righteous and good, he teaches sinners the path they should follow.

9 He leads the humble in the right way and teaches them his will.

10 With faithfulness and love he leads all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.

11 Keep your promise, Lord, and forgive my sins, for they are many.

12 Those who have reverence for the Lord will learn from him the path they should follow.

13 They will always be prosperous, and their children will possess the land.

14 The Lord is the friend of those who obey him and he affirms his covenant with them.

15 I look to the Lord for help at all times, and he rescues me from danger.

16 Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful to me, because I am lonely and weak.

17 Relieve me of my worries and save me from all my troubles.

18 Consider my distress and suffering and forgive all my sins.

19 See how many enemies I have; see how much they hate me.

20 Protect me and save me; keep me from defeat. I come to you for safety.

21 May my goodness and honesty preserve me, because I trust in you.

22 From all their troubles, O God, save your people Israel!

Psalms 25 Commentary

Chapter 25

Confidence in prayer. (1-7) Prayer for remission of sins. (8-14) For help in affliction. (15-22)

Verses 1-7 In worshipping God, we must lift up our souls to him. It is certain that none who, by a believing attendance, wait on God, and, by a believing hope, wait for him, shall be ashamed of it. The most advanced believer both needs and desires to be taught of God. If we sincerely desire to know our duty, with resolution to do it, we may be sure that God will direct us in it. The psalmist is earnest for the pardon of his sins. When God pardons sin, he is said to remember it no more, which denotes full remission. It is God's goodness, and not ours, his mercy, and not our merit, that must be our plea for the pardon of sin, and all the good we need. This plea we must rely upon, feeling our own unworthiness, and satisfied of the riches of God's mercy and grace. How boundless is that mercy which covers for ever the sins and follies of a youth spent without God and without hope! Blessed be the Lord, the blood of the great Sacrifice can wash away every stain.

Verses 8-14 We are all sinners; and Christ came into the world to save sinners, to teach sinners, to call sinners to repentance. We value a promise by the character of him that makes it; we therefore depend upon God's promises. All the paths of the Lord, that is, all his promises and all his providences, are mercy and truth. In all God's dealings his people may see his mercy displayed, and his word fulfilled, whatever afflictions they are now exercised with. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth; and so it will appear when they come to their journey's end. Those that are humble, that distrust themselves, and desire to be taught and to follow Divine guidance, these he will guide in judgment, that is, by the rule of the written word, to find rest for their souls in the Saviour. Even when the body is sick, and in pain, the soul may be at ease in God.

Verses 15-22 The psalmist concludes, as he began, with expressing dependence upon God, and desire toward him. It is good thus to hope, and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. And if God turns to us, no matter who turns from us. He pleads his own integrity. Though guilty before God, yet, as to his enemies, he had the testimony of conscience that he had done them no wrong. God would, at length, give Israel rest from all their enemies round about. In heaven, God's Israel will be perfectly redeemed from all troubles. Blessed Saviour, thou hast graciously taught us that without thee we can do nothing. Do thou teach us how to pray, how to appear before thee in the way which thou shalt choose, and how to lift up our whole hearts and desires after thee, for thou art the Lord our righteousness.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 25

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. This is the first of the psalms which is written in an alphabetical order, or in which the first word of every verse begins with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order, though it is not strictly and regularly observed; the reason of this manner of writing is not very obvious; the {r} Jews confess their ignorance of it; it may be to engage the attention to what is said, or to assist the memory in laying it up, and retaining it there. The occasion of the psalm seems to be the troubles David was in on account of an unnatural rebellion raised against him by some of his subjects, at the head of which was his own son Absalom; he speaks of himself as in a net, and in great affliction, distress, and trouble, by reason of his enemies, Ps 25:15-18; and as being brought to a sense of his former sins, for which he desires pardon, Ps 25:7,11. {r} Kimchi in loc.