Psalms 25 - Introduction

XXV.

This acrostic psalm offers nothing definite for ascertaining its date, but is usually referred to the exile times, when the faithful among the captive Israelites were “waiting” (Psalms 25:3; Psalms 25:5; Psalms 25:21) for the redemption of their race. It is full of plaintive appeal to God for help, and reflects that disposition to trust entirely to the Divine pity, which is characteristic of the better minds of Israel under affliction. Indeed we may hear here the voice of the community acknowledging the sins of its younger days (Psalms 25:7) before trouble had come to teach the Divine lesson of penitence and hope of forgiveness.