Psalms 25:1 «[A Psalm] of David. » Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. _A Psalm of David_] An excellent psalm; the second of those seven called by the ancients penitential; and such as may well serve us for a pattern of our daily prayers; as wherein David beggeth three things (answerable to th... [ Continue Reading ]
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Ver. 2. _O my God, I trust in thee_] I pray in faith, which is as the fire, and my prayer as the flame that ariseth out of it. Faith is the foundation of prayer; and prayer is the fervency of faith. Now David kn... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Ver. 3. _Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed_] Be nosed and twitted with my disappointments, as they are sure to be if I be repulsed by thee and worsted by mine enemies; all thy praying people sha... [ Continue Reading ]
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Ver. 4. _Show me thy ways, O Lord_] _q.d._ However other men walk towards me, yet my desire is to keep touch with thee; for which purpose I humbly beg thy best direction. See Exo 33:13 Isaiah 2:3 . _ Teach me thy paths_] _Assuefac me_; inure me to thy... [ Continue Reading ]
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou [art] the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Ver. 5. _Lead me in thy truth, and teach me_] _i.e._ _Assidue doce et urge._ David was a great proficient in God's school, and yet he would learn more; so sweet is divine knowledge. Four times... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they [have been] ever of old. Ver. 6. _Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies_] Heb. thy bowels, which thou mayest seem to have lost, but I shall find them for thee. Where are thy bowels and thy compassions? are they restrained? If th... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. Ver. 7. _Remember not the sins of my youth_] Which, though long since committed, must not be remembered without remorse; since for them God often punisheth men in their... [ Continue Reading ]
Good and upright [is] the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. Ver. 8. _Good and upright is the Lord_] _i.e._ Gracious and righteous, or faithful; and hence it is that our God is merciful, as Psalms 116:5; hence it is that we poor creatures are not overwhelmed, _aut magnitudine peccato... [ Continue Reading ]
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. Ver. 9. _The meek will he guide in judgment_] Or, the poor (viz. in spirit) will he make to tread in judgment; to foot it aright, to walk judiciously, to behave themselves wisely, as David did, 1 Samuel 10:14, so that Saul fear... [ Continue Reading ]
All the paths of the LORD [are] mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. Ver. 10. _All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth_] All the passages and proceedings, both ordinantial and providential, whereby he cometh and communicateth himself to his people, are not only... [ Continue Reading ]
For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it [is] great. Ver. 11. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity] Never did prisoner at the bar beg more earnestly for his life than David did for pardon of his great offence, especially in the matter of Uriah; for that lay heaviest. _... [ Continue Reading ]
What man [is] he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way [that] he shall choose. Ver. 12. _What man is he that feareth the Lord?_] This question implieth, first, a paucity of such, as Hosea 14:9; secondly, the felicity of such as, out of a reverential fear of God, sue to him for pardon... [ Continue Reading ]
His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. Ver. 13. _His soul shall dwell at ease_] Heb. shall lodge in good, even then when his body haply is tossing on his sick bed, and at great unrest, _Conquiescet quemadmodum de nocte quiesci solet_ (Trcmel.). One being asked how he di... [ Continue Reading ]
The secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Ver. 14. _The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him_] It is neither learning nor labour that can give insight into God's secrets, those _Arcana imperii,_ Matthew 13:12, the mysteries of the kingdom of h... [ Continue Reading ]
Mine eyes [are] ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Ver. 15. _Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord_] I look him full in the face, and confidently expect deliverance. This he speaketh, saith one, in reference to the army that he had sent out to meet Absalom, 2 Samuel 18:1,... [ Continue Reading ]
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I [am] desolate and afflicted. Ver. 16. _Turn thee unto me_] Heb. Face about towards me. _ And have mercy upon me_] There being no such mercy as to have thy favour. This is a voluminous mercy. _ For I am desolate and afflicted_] As all creatures flag... [ Continue Reading ]
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: [O] bring thou me out of my distresses. Ver. 17. _The troubles of my heart are enlarged_] Whereby my heart is sorely straitened, so that I can hardly breathe: Oh, "hide not thine ear at my breathing," at my cry, Lamentations 3:56. _En patet in curas area lata... [ Continue Reading ]
Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. Ver. 18. _Look upon mine affliction and my pain_] My griefs, under which I groan and labour, My concupiscence, saith Aben Ezra, against which I strive, but prevail not. _ And forgive all my sin_] Heb. lift up, take away; lay them on t... [ Continue Reading ]
Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. Ver. 19. _Consider mine enemies, for they are many_] This was to David half a promise, and a whole reason that he should be helped; since it was to come to an extremity. If God but look out of the pillar of cloud upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Ver. 20. _O keep my soul_] The repetition of the self same petition argueth earnestness, and is not always battology. _ Let me not be ashamed_] Rendered scornful and scandalous.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Ver. 21. _Let integrity and uprightness preserve me_] Integrity of conscience and uprightness of conversation. _ For I wait on thee_] viz. For the accomplishment of thy promise, That with the upright thou wilt show thyself upright, Psa... [ Continue Reading ]
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Ver. 22. _Redeem Israel, &c._] _In vita vel post mortem meam,_ Either while I live, or after my death (R. David). This is every good man's care and prayer. None is in case to pray for the Church, that hath not first made his own peace with God.... [ Continue Reading ]