PSALM XXV _The psalmist, in great distress, calls upon God frequently_, 1-5; _prays for pardon with the strong confidence of being heard_, 6-11; _shows the blessedness of the righteous_, 12-14; _again earnestly implores the Divine mercy; and prays for the_ _restoration of Israel_, 15-22. NOTE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:2. _I TRUST IN THEE_] I depend upon thy infinite goodness and mercy for my support and salvation. _LET ME NOT BE ASHAMED_] Hide my iniquity, and forgive my guilt.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:3. _LET NONE THAT WAIT ON THEE BE ASHAMED_] Though he had burden enough of _his own_, he felt for _others_ in similar circumstances, and became an intercessor in their behalf. _TRANSGRESS WITHOUT CAUSE._] Perhaps בוגדים _bogedim_ may here mean _idolatrous persons_. "Let not them tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:4. _SHOW ME THY WAYS_] The psalmist wishes to _know_ God's _way_, to be taught his _path_, and to be led into his _truth_. He cannot discern this _way_ unless God _show_ it; he cannot _learn_ the _path_ unless God _teach_ it; and he cannot _walk_ in God's _truth_ unless God _lead_ hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:5. _ON THEE DO I WAIT_] This is the line in which ו _vau_, the sixth letter in the order of the alphabet, is lost; for the line begins with א _aleph_, אותך othecha, "on thee." But four of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_ MSS. have ואותך _veothecha_, "AND upon thee." This restores the l... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:6. _REMEMBER, O LORD, THY TENDER MERCIES, AND THY_ _LOVING-KINDNESS_] The word רחמים _rachamim_, means the _commiseration_ that a man feels in his bowels at the sight of distress. The second word, חסדים _chasadim_, signifies those _kindnesses_ which are the offspring of a _profusion... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:7. _REMEMBER NOT THE SINS OF MY YOUTH_] Those which I have committed through _inconsiderateness_, and _heat of passion_. _ACCORDING TO THY MERCY_] As it is _worthy of thy mercy_ to act according to the measure, the greatness, and general practice of thy mercy; so give me an _abundan... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:8. _GOOD AND UPRIGHT_ IS _THE LORD_] He is _good_ in his _nature_, and _righteous_ in his _conduct_. _THEREFORE WILL HE TEACH SINNERS_] Because he is good, he will teach sinners, though they deserve nothing but destruction: and because he is _right_, he will _teach_ them the _true w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:9. _THE MEEK WILL HE GUIDE_] ענוים _anavim_, the _poor_, the _distressed; he will lead in judgment _- he will direct them in their cause, and bring it to a happy issue, for he will show them the _way_ in which they should go.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:10. _ALL THE PATHS OF THE LORD_] ארחות _orchoth_ signifies the _tracks_ or _ruts_ made by the _wheels of wagons_ by often passing over the same ground. _Mercy_ and _truth_ are the _paths_ in which God _constantly walks_ in reference to the children of men; and so _frequently_ does h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:11. _FOR THY NAME'S SAKE, O LORD, PARDON_] I have sinned; I need mercy; there is no reason why thou shouldst show it, but what thou drawest from the goodness of thy own nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:12. _THAT FEARETH THE LORD_] Who has a proper apprehension of _his_ holiness, justice, and truth; and who, at the same time, sees _himself_ a fallen spirit, and a transgressor of God's holy law, and consequently under the curse. That is the person that truly and reverently fears God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:13. _HIS SOUL SHALL DWELL AT EASE_] בטוב תלין _betob talin_, "shall lodge in goodness;" this is the _marginal_ reading in our version; and is preferable to that in the text. _HIS SEED SHALL INHERIT_] His _posterity_ shall be blessed. For them many prayers have been sent up to God by... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:14. _THE SECRET OF THE LORD_ IS _WITH THEM_] טוד _sod_, the _secret assembly_ of the Lord is with them that fear him; many of them have a Church in their own house. _HE WILL SHOW THEM HIS COVENANT._] He will let them see how great blessings he has provided for them that love him. So... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:15. _MINE EYES_ ARE _EVER TOWARD THE LORD_] All my expectation is from him alone. If I get at any time entangled, he will pluck my feet out of the net.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:16. _TURN THEE UNTO ME_] Probably the prayer of the poor captives in Babylon, which is continued through this and the remaining verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:17. _THE TROUBLES OF MAY HEART ARE ENLARGED_] The evils of our captive state, instead of lessening, seem to multiply, and each to be extended.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:18. _LOOK UPON MINE AFFLICTION_] See my distressed condition, and thy eye will affect thy heart. _FORGIVE ALL MY SINS._] My sins are the _cause_ of all my sufferings; forgive these. This is the verse which should begin with the letter _koph_; but, instead of it, we have ר _resh_ bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:19. _CONSIDER MINE ENEMIES_] Look upon them, and thou wilt see how impossible it is that I should be able to resist and overcome them. They are many, they hate me, and their hatred drives them to acts of _cruelty_ against me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:20. _O KEEP MY SOUL_] Save me from sin, and keep me alive. _LET ME NOT BE ASHAMED_] He ends as he began; see Psalms 25:2: "Let me not be confounded, for I put my trust in thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:21. _LET INTEGRITY AND UPRIGHTNESS_] I wish to have a _perfect heart_, and an _upright life_. This seems to be the meaning of these two words.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 25:22. _REDEEMS ISRAEL, O GOD_] The people are prayed for in the preceding verses as if _one person_; now he includes the whole, lest his own personal necessities should narrow his heart, and cause him to forget his fellow sufferers. This verse stands out of the order of the Psalm; and... [ Continue Reading ]