Psalms 25

David being distressed by his Enemies and Persecutors, taketh his refuge to God; confesseth his sins, prayeth for mercy and forgiveness, and that God would teach him, and lead him in his ways, according as he was wont to do by his; delivering him withal from his Enemies, and preserving his Church in general.

1. (A Psalm) of David. Aleph. To thee LORD, do I lift up my soul. [viz. By a heart prayer for, and fervent desire of thy help. The Manner of speaking may partly be compare with Psalm 24.on v.4. and Psalms 86:4. likewise.]

2. Beth. My God, I trust in thee, let me not be ashamed; [Which happeneth unto those which are deceived in their hopes and expectations] Let not mine Enemies [Saul, and his, whom this Psalm seemeth principally to aim at] leap up for joy over me. [or, in my behalf, because of me, for my sake.]

3. Gimel. Yea all that wait upon thee shall not be ashamed: they shall be ashamed, that deal unfaithfully without cause.

4. Daleh. LORD make thy ways [See Gen.18.on verse 19. And Deut.32.on verse 4.] known unto me; [viz. By thy word and spirit] teach me thy paths.

5. He, Vau. Lead me in thy truth, [i.e. In thy revealed word. See John 17:17. or truth, i.e. thy true and faithful promises. Grant that I may firmly rely on them, and be guided and governed by them, that I may not trespass against them through unbelief or revengefulness] and teach me, for thou art the God of my Salvation; [Psalms 24:5.] on thee I wait all the day. [on thee, i.e. upon, or for thy gracious help and deliverance.]

6. Zain. Remember, LORD, thy mercies, and thy kindnesses: for those are from everlasting. [Compare 2 Timothy 1:9. and Ephesians 1:4.]

7. Cheth. Remember not the sins of my youth, [Compare Gen.8.21. Job 13:26. Eccles.12.2. Jerem.3.35.] nor my transgression, remember me according to thy kindness, for thy goodness sake, O LORD.

8. Teth. The LORD is good and right, therefore shall be instruct the sinners in the way. [Whose condition he pitieth, of his goodness, for their conversion, and whom according to his right, or rightness, straightness he directeth to the rightway, which he hath prescribed for the penitent sinner in his word. Compare v.9. and 12.]

9. Jod. He shall lead the meek kin the right: [See Psa.10.on v.17. The word Right or Judgements seemeth to be delivered here by the way of God, as followeth; as elsewhere likewise by Gods right, there is understood his word and doctrine. Otherwise this might be compared with Jerem.10.24. as if the Prophet said, God shall lead the meek with Judgement, i.e. with reason, measure and discretion, and favourable and fatherly guide and govern them in all things, &c. See the Annot.on Jer.10.24. and compare here the next verse and annot.] and he shall teach the meek his way.

10. Caph. All the paths of the LORD are kindness and truth, (or troth, faithfulness) [i.e. whatever he doth by his children, all his government over them, is nothing but meer grace and favour, which he sheweth and exhibiteth unto them, according to his sure and certain promises, how strange and uncouth so ever it may seem sometimes to flesh and bloud, in regard of the manifold crosses and tribulations it is seasoned withal. Compare Deut.32.on v.4. and Rom.8.v.28.] unto them, that keep his covenant and his testimonies, [i.e. that by faith embrace the promises of his covenant, and lead a godly life according to the same. See of Gods covenant, Jer.31.32,33, &c. Heb.8.6,8,9,15.]

11. Lamed. For thy names sake LORD, forgive mine iniquity: for that is great, [Or manifold.]

12. Mem. Who is the man, that feareth the LORD? He shall instruct him in the way, [i.e. he that feareth the LORD him shall he, &c. See Deut.20.on v.5.] which he is to choose. [viz. To walk therein; to choose, and love, and affect, are of so neer kin together, that the one is understood by, and used for the other. See Isa.42.1. Matth.12.18. Compare also 2 Sam.15.on v.15.]

13. Nun. His soul shall lodge kin the good, (or goodness) and his seed shall inherit the earth, [or Harbour, lodge, abide. The meaning is, the godly with their believing seed shall enjoy the blessing of the LORD, not only in matter spiritual and eternal, but also in bodily and temporal. Compare Psa.1.on v.1. the like promises occure very frequently in this book; which never the less do not at all exclude the cross, as doth plainly appear in this very Psalm; See v.16.17,18. Otherwise, the land, viz. Of Canaan, called the land of promise, Heb.11.9. promised to Abraham and to his seed, being a type and pledge of the heavenly Canaan, and highly commended in the Scripture; see further, Psa.37.on v.29.]

14. Samech. The hiddenness of the LORD [which he hath revealed in his word, especially in the holy gospel, of his love and grace in the Messiah, as is declared by the word Covenant following after. Compare Prov.3.32. and see Rom.16.25. 1 Cor.2.7. and 4.1. Ephes.3.3,4,9. Col.1.26,27. 1 Tim.3.9.16.] is for them that fear him: and his covenant to make (the same) known unto them [viz. The said hiddenness and covenant, and that by his word and spirit.]

15. Ajin. Mine eyes [viz. Of faith and hope. Compare Cant.4.9. together with the annot.] are continually upon the LORD, for he shall draw my feet out of the net. [Which mine Enemies have laid for to entrap me.]

16. Pe. Turn thee unto me. [Or turn thy face at, or towards me according to the promise. Lev.26.9.] and have mercy on me: for I am solitary. [Compare Psa.22.v.21.] and afflicted.

17. Tsade. The distresses of my heart have stretched out themselves at large, [i.e. they are many and manifold, and increase mightily. Heb. Properly, have enlarged themselves] draw (or bring) me out of my straights.

18. Resh. Look upon mine affliction and my toil, [viz. With pitty and compassion, and help me, as Deut.26.7. See Gen.16.on v.13. &c.] and take away all my sins [i.e. pardon and forgive. The Hebrew word doth properly signify, to lift up, bear, take up, or away, and thence is applied to signify the pardoning of sins. Com. Psa.32.1. with Rom.4.7. Understand for Christ his sake, who is said to have born and taken away our sins, John 1:29. 1 Pet.2.14. Another thing is, when a man is said to bear his own his sins or iniquity. See thereof, Lev.5.on v.1.]

19. Resh. Look upon mine Enemies, [viz. In wrath with indignation. Compare above chap.21.on v.10.] for they multiply; [or are powerful, or grow mighty] and they hate me with a violent hatred. [Heb. Hatred of violence.]

20. Shin. Keep my soul, [i.e. my life. See Gen.19.on v.17.] and deliver me: let me not be ashamed, for I trust in thee.

21. Thau. Let uprightness and honesty, [Heb. Straightness, evenness,] keep me, [he doth rely before God upon his innocence, and righteous cause against his enemies; because he was upright and honest, or right, downright, right-minded before God and his Church. See the first verse of the next Psalm, and Psa.7.on v.11.] for I wait on thee.

22. O God, deliver Israel out of all his distresses, [In what straights and distresses the godly were in Saul’s time, thereof see Psa.10. and 12. And 14. &c.]