Psalm 25:1

1 The song of David. Lord, to thee I have raised my soul; (The psalm of David. Lord, I raise up my soul to thee;)

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 The song of David. Lord, to thee I have raised my soul; (The psalm of David. Lord, I raise up my soul to thee;)

2 my God, I trust in thee, be I not ashamed. Neither mine enemies scorn me; (my God, I put my trust in thee, so do not let me shamed. And do not let my enemies scorn me;)

3 for all men that suffer thee shall not be shamed. All men doing wicked things superfluously; be they shamed. (for all those who trust in thee shall not be shamed. But all those who do wicked things without cause, let them be shamed.)

4 Lord, show thou thy ways to me; and teach thou me thy paths.

5 (Ad)dress thou me in thy truth, and teach thou me, for thou art God, my saviour; and I suffered thee all day. (Direct thou me in thy truth, and teach thou me, for thou art God, my saviour; and I have waited for thee all day long.)