Psalms 25:1-22
1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not 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 tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; 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' sake, O LORD.
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 name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwella at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluckb my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate 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 hate me with cruelc 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; for I wait on thee.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Psalms 25:1. To thee, oh Lord, do I lift up my soul anew, now in this time of war and danger.
Psalms 25:5. On thee do I wait all the day. David speaks of his blessing the Lord seven times a day; probably four times in secret, and three times in household devotion. And how can any man be accounted truly devout and pious without doing so.
Psalms 25:14. The secret of the Lord. Chaldaic, סוד sod, the secret. Vulgate, firmamentum, foundation, strength, &c., designating that the Lord's counsel is sure, as well as secret. He told Noah of the deluge, and Abraham of the burning of Sodom. This is an expression full of confidence and grace, implying that the secret of his covenant, and knowledge of his word, are with the faithful worshipper. Job uses the word, Job 29:4: “When the secret of God was on my tabernacle,” his light and joyful presence. The secret communications of his peace, of joy and comfort, called the hidden manna, which the natural man cannot receive. This secret of the Lord is at all times the glorious high throne where we can run for particular directions and support in all duties and difficulties; for he will guide the meek in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way: Psalms 25:9.
Psalms 25:20. Oh keep my soul. Here, and in many other places, it is a prayer for God to preserve David's life from the sword: and can a man who so prays engage in offensive wars? His enemies have equal right to address the same prayer to the same God. He speaks more plainly in Psalms 26:9. When one nation robs another, a war may be just and necessary. The bible remedy consists in filling the earth with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
REFLECTIONS.
“We are here instructed most earnestly to pray that we may be filled with the knowledge of God; that he would teach us to walk in his way, and grant us pardon for all the sins we have committed. We also learn how advantageous it is to fear God. David has told us that God makes known his ways to the meek and humble, that he shows them that fear him the way that they should choose, that to them he reveals his secrets and his covenant; that he blesses them and their posterity exceedingly; and when they are in affliction he protects and delivers them out of all their distress. These are instructions of the greatest use and importance; carefully reading and meditating on these things, and frequently offering up to God the excellent prayers contained in this psalm, is one of the best things we can do to strengthen us more and more in the fear of the Lord, and secure our eternal welfare.”