Psalms 25

Psalms 25:1-7

This psalm seems to be pruned during his troubles, from Absalom or Shohe. 1. He prays to be protected, and lead in God’s holy way, ver. 1-5. 2. That God would be merciful to his sins, ver. 6, 7, 11. 3. He express his truth in God, ver. 8-12, 14. 4. He lays his distressed situation before God, and prays for holy and deliverance, ver. 15-23.

¶ A Psalm of David.

1. UNTO thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. 1 Psal. 2. O my God, I trust in thee, let me not be ashamed: let me mine enemies triumph over me. 3. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed; let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation, on thee do I wait all the day. 6. Remember, O LORD; thy truth mercies and thy loving kindness: for they have been ever of old. 7. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodness take, O LORD.

David’s troubles always brought him to his knees, and there he ever found a sure relief. We have him here,

1. Appreaching God under his afflictions, of whatever for they were, and calling his care upon him. Unto thee do I lift up my soul in prayer for support, or as a sacred deposit, commend it to his keeping and care. O my God, I trust in thee, fix my anchor within the rail, and amidst the storm contentedly wait the issue; since thou art my God, I am safe. Note, (1.) An interest in God’s love is a sure protection from every foe. (2.) The more our hearts are lifted up from earth to heaven, and leaving these vanities, we place our supreme desire on the sinners above, the more sure we are our hope shall not be disappointed.

2. He prays for himself, and all that like him were afflicted; that neither he nor they might be ashamed of their confidence, or disappointed of their hope. Let not mine enemies triumph more, as they soon would, if God should withdraw his kind support, but let them be ashamed that transgress without a single against me, who have never provoked them, against thee, the God of all mercy. Note, (1.) Whilst we are praying for ourselves, we must not forget our brethren; but be advantors for them, as they are for us. (2.) He that believeth, shall not be ashamed; the God of his confidence never faineth those who seek him. (3.) Though transgressors may appear for a while secure and triumphant in their wickedness, yet their day is coming, when everlasting confusion shall cover them.

3. He begs of God to direct and lead him in the right way of duty, to direct him in his worship and service, to enlighten his mind with all saving truth, and enable him to walk under the influence of it. And for this he pleads, because God is his salvation, the author and finisher of it, on whom his soul depends, and because he waited on him all the day, in consequence of his promise, to hear the prayer of his people. Note, (1.) We are by nature both blind and impotent, ignorant of God’s ways, and unable to walk in them; he must therefore teach the ignorant, and help the helpless, or we can never walk might and please him. (2.) They who wait upon God, as the God of their salvation, will never wait in vain.

4. He pleads the grace and everlasting promises of God in Jesus Christ, which former saints ever experienced in their days of trouble; and he humbly hopes God will not forget to manifest the same grace, and fulfil the same promises to him. Note, (1.) The believer’s hope fixes on God’s everlasting love, which remains the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. (2.) What others have proved their support, we are the more encouraged to trust upon.

5. He begs pardon for transgressions, which from the womb began in a corrupted nature, and appeared from his youth up; for

for which, should God enter into judgment with him, he must be utterly condemned: therefore he cries for mercy, and disclaiming all merit, pleads only God’s unbounded grace and goodness. Note. (1.) The sins of our youth, though forgiven and forgotten of God, should never be forgotten by us. (2.) The only hope of the sinner arises from God’s free grace in a redeemer, without which, every transgression must sink us under black despair. (3.) They who draw near to God in humble faith, however great or aggravated their sins, may confidently hope that they shall not only be forgiven, but forgotten.

8. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11. For thy names take, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great. 12. What man is he that feareth the LORD? 13. He shall be teach in the way that he shall choose. 14. His soul shall dwell at ease: and his seed shall inherit the earth. 15. The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him: and he will shew them his covenant.

v. Rev. 1. Having afoot of God direction and support, he here promises himself that he shall find it.

15. *Mine eyes are ever towards the LORD: for he shall teach my feet out of the net. 16. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me: for I am deblaze and afflicted. 17. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. 18. Look upon mine affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. 19. Consider mine enemies, for they are many, and they have me with your hatred. 20. O keep my soul and deliver me: let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in thee. 21. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me: Vol. I.

for I wait on thee. 22. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Psalms 25:15-22

Encouraged by the views of God’s goodness he had suggested, he again renews his complaints and prayers, in hopes of prefers and speedy help.

1. His complaints are many and grievous. His feet are entangled in the net; either that which the counsels of Ahtinghel and others spread for him, or with the sinners of sin that had prevailed against him; he is deplete and afflicted, or alone and poor, forsaken of his subjects, and deftitute of necessities, or in his spirit grieved with the sense of sin, which had occasioned his fortress. The trouble of his heart may undergo, both their outward trials and inward distress, whilst his guilt seems to lie heavier on his confusions, than all the pain of his afflictions. His enemies were laid away in number, and perfected him such a cruel hatred, so that he had need cry aloud, when thus compelled about on every side. Note. When God brings his people into trouble under his chastisments, Satan usually takes occasion to aggravate their fortress, with his inward acculting.

2. Under all, his eye is directed upward, his craft unthaken, and his prayer fervent. (1.) His sin, as his greatest burden, he prays God to forgive, v. 18. for that removed, all other sufferings will be comparatively light afflictions. (2.) He begs God to bring him out of his distresses in his own good time and way. Note. True resignation to affliction is not at all inconsistent with humble prayer for its removal. (3.) He prays God would consider his enemies, to break their power, and deliver him from their hands. Note. Though we must love our enemies, we may safely pray against their wickedness. (4.) He pleads his integrity, v. 21. however guilty he stood before God, to them he had done no wrong. Note. It is a great comfort, when deplorably used of men, to be conscious that the injury is unprovoked. (5.) He concludes with a general petition for the whole Israel of God, v. 22. either particularly for his afflicted kingdom, during his sin’s unnatural usurpation, or for the sending that glorious Saviour, who should turn away ungodliness from Jacob, or rather more diffidently that God would save his spiritual Israel from all their troubles, when the days of their warfare shall be ended, and in heaven they shall find that eternal repose, which no enemy without or within shall evermore be able to disturb. Oh come that happy day!