Psalmen 25

1 Een psalm van David. Aleph. Tot U, o HEERE! hef ik mijn ziel op.

2 Beth. Mijn God! op U vertrouw ik; laat mij niet beschaamd worden; laat mijn vijanden niet van vreugde opspringen over mij.

3 Gimel. Ja, allen, die U verwachten, zullen niet beschaamd worden; zij zullen beschaamd worden, die trouwelooslijk handelen zonder oorzaak.

4 Daleth. HEERE! maak mij Uw wegen bekend, leer mij Uw paden.

5 He. Vau. Leid mij in Uw waarheid, en leer mij, want Gij zijt de God mijns heils; U verwacht ik den ganse dag.

6 Zain. Gedenk, HEERE! Uwer barmhartigheden en Uwer goedertierenheden, want die zijn van eeuwigheid.

7 Cheth. Gedenk niet der zonden mijner jonkheid, noch mijner overtredingen; gedenk mijner naar Uw goedertierenheid, om Uwer goedheid wil, o HEERE!

8 Teth. De HEERE is goed en recht; daarom zal Hij de zondaars onderwijzen in den weg.

9 Jod. Hij zal de zachtmoedigen leiden in het recht, en Hij zal den zachtmoedigen Zijn weg leren.

10 Caph. Alle paden des HEEREN zijn goedertierenheid en waarheid, dengenen, die Zijn verbond en Zijn getuigenissen bewaren.

11 Lamed. Om Uws Naams wil, HEERE! zo vergeef mijn ongerechtigheid, want die is groot.

12 Mem. Wie is de man, die den HEERE vreest? Hij zal hem onderwijzen in den weg, dien hij zal hebben te verkiezen.

13 Nun. Zijn ziel zal vernachten in het goede, en zijn zaad zal de aarde beerven.

14 Samech. De verborgenheid des HEEREN is voor degenen, die Hem vrezen; en Zijn verbond, om hun die bekend te maken.

15 Ain. Mijn ogen zijn geduriglijk op den HEERE, want Hij zal mijn voeten uit het net uitvoeren.

16 Pe. Wend U tot mij, en wees mij genadig, want ik ben eenzaam en ellendig.

17 Tsade. De benauwdheden mijns harten hebben zich wijd uitgestrekt; voer mij uit mijn noden.

18 Resch. Aanzie mijn ellende, en mijn moeite, en neem weg al mijn zonden.

19 Resch. Aanzie mijn vijanden, want zij vermenigvuldigen, en zij haten mij met een wreveligen haat.

20 Schin. Bewaar mijn ziel, en red mij; laat mij niet beschaamd worden, want ik betrouw op U.

21 Thau. Laat oprechtigheid en vroomheid mij behoeden, want ik verwacht U.

22 O God! verlos Israel uit al zijn benauwdheden.

Psalmen 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.