Psalm 25:1

Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon.

1 To You, O LORD, I ¹lift up my soul.

Psalm 25:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 25:1

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
] Either "in prayer", as the Chaldee paraphrase adds ^F19; and denotes sincere, affectionate, hearty prayer to God, a drawing nigh to him with a true heart: for unless the heart is lifted up, the lifting up of the eyes or hands in prayer is of no avail; see ( Lamentations 3:41 ) ; or by way of offering to the Lord, as some Jewish writers ^F20 interpret it; David not only presented his body in public worship, but his soul also as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which was his reasonable service; or else as a "depositum", which he committed into the hands of God, to be under his care and protection; and then the sense is the same with ( Psalms 31:5 ) ^F21; the phrase is sometimes used to express earnest and vehement desire after anything; (See Gill on Psalms 24:4); and may here intend the very great desire of the psalmist after communion with God; which is elsewhere by him expressed by panting after him, and by thirsting for him in a dry and thirsty land, ( Psalms 42:1 ) ( 63:1 ) ; the desires of his soul were not to vain things, the vanities and idols of the Gentiles, but to God only, and to the remembrance of his name.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 So Kimchi & Ben Melech.
F20 R. Moseh in Aben Ezra in loc.
F21 Midrash Tillim.

Psalm 25:1 In-Context

1 To You, O LORD , I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me.

3 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.

4 Make me 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 the day.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 86:4; Psalms 143:8