Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 25

Psalms 25:1-22 King James Version (KJV)

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 dwell 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 pluck 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 cruel 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 25:1-22 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 [[A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Unto thee, O LORD, H3068 do I lift up H5375 my soul. H5315

2 O my God, H430 I trust H982 in thee: let me not be ashamed, H954 let not mine enemies H341 triumph H5970 over me.

3 Yea, let none that wait H6960 on thee be ashamed: H954 let them be ashamed H954 which transgress H898 without cause. H7387

4 Shew H3045 me thy ways, H1870 O LORD; H3068 teach H3925 me thy paths. H734

5 Lead H1869 me in thy truth, H571 and teach H3925 me: for thou art the God H430 of my salvation; H3468 on thee do I wait H6960 all the day. H3117

6 Remember, H2142 O LORD, H3068 thy tender mercies H7356 and thy lovingkindnesses; H2617 for they have been ever of old. H5769

7 Remember H2142 not the sins H2403 of my youth, H5271 nor my transgressions: H6588 according to thy mercy H2617 remember H2142 thou me for thy goodness' H2898 sake, O LORD. H3068

8 Good H2896 and upright H3477 is the LORD: H3068 therefore will he teach H3384 sinners H2400 in the way. H1870

9 The meek H6035 will he guide H1869 in judgment: H4941 and the meek H6035 will he teach H3925 his way. H1870

10 All the paths H734 of the LORD H3068 are mercy H2617 and truth H571 unto such as keep H5341 his covenant H1285 and his testimonies. H5713

11 For thy name's H8034 sake, O LORD, H3068 pardon H5545 mine iniquity; H5771 for it is great. H7227

12 What man H376 is he that feareth H3373 the LORD? H3068 him shall he teach H3384 in the way H1870 that he shall choose. H977

13 His soul H5315 shall dwell H3885 at ease; H2896 and his seed H2233 shall inherit H3423 the earth. H776

14 The secret H5475 of the LORD H3068 is with them that fear H3373 him; and he will shew H3045 them his covenant. H1285

15 Mine eyes H5869 are ever H8548 toward the LORD; H3068 for he shall pluck H3318 my feet H7272 out of the net. H7568

16 Turn H6437 thee unto me, and have mercy H2603 upon me; for I am desolate H3173 and afflicted. H6041

17 The troubles H6869 of my heart H3824 are enlarged: H7337 O bring thou me out H3318 of my distresses. H4691

18 Look H7200 upon mine affliction H6040 and my pain; H5999 and forgive H5375 all my sins. H2403

19 Consider H7200 mine enemies; H341 for they are many; H7231 and they hate H8130 me with cruel H2555 hatred. H8135

20 O keep H8104 my soul, H5315 and deliver H5337 me: let me not be ashamed; H954 for I put my trust H2620 in thee.

21 Let integrity H8537 and uprightness H3476 preserve H5341 me; for I wait H6960 on thee.

22 Redeem H6299 Israel, H3478 O God, H430 out of all his troubles. H6869

Psalms 25:1-22 American Standard (ASV)

1 Unto thee, O Jehovah, do I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, in thee have I trusted, Let me not be put to shame; Let not mine enemies triumph over me.

3 Yea, none that wait for thee shall be put to shame: They shall be put to shame that deal treacherously without cause.

4 Show me thy ways, O Jehovah; Teach me thy paths.

5 Guide me in thy truth, and teach me; For thou art the God of my salvation; For thee do I wait all the day.

6 Remember, O Jehovah, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindness; For they have been ever of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: According to thy lovingkindness remember thou me, For thy goodness' sake, O Jehovah.

8 Good and upright is Jehovah: Therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.

9 The meek will he guide in justice; And the meek will he teach his way.

10 All the paths of Jehovah are lovingkindness and truth Unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For thy name's sake, O Jehovah, Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.

12 What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.

13 His soul shall dwell at ease; And his seed shall inherit the land.

14 The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him; And he will show them his covenant.

15 Mine eyes are ever toward Jehovah; For he will pluck 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: Oh bring thou me out of my distresses.

18 Consider mine affliction and my travail; And forgive all my sins.

19 Consider mine enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred.

20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me: Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for thee.

22 Redeem Israel, O God, Out all of his troubles. Psalm 26 `A Psalm' of David.

Psalms 25:1-22 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 By David. Unto Thee, O Jehovah, my soul I lift up.

2 My God, in Thee I have trusted, Let me not be ashamed, Let not mine enemies exult over me.

3 Also let none waiting on Thee be ashamed, Let the treacherous dealers without cause be ashamed.

4 Thy ways, O Jehovah, cause me to know, Thy paths teach Thou me.

5 Cause me to tread in Thy truth, and teach me, For Thou `art' the God of my salvation, Near Thee I have waited all the day.

6 Remember Thy mercies, O Jehovah, And Thy kindnesses, for from the age `are' they.

7 Sins of my youth, and my transgressions, Do not Thou remember. According to Thy kindness be mindful of me, For Thy goodness' sake, O Jehovah.

8 Good and upright `is' Jehovah, Therefore He directeth sinners in the way.

9 He causeth the humble to tread in judgment, And teacheth the humble His way.

10 All the paths of Jehovah `are' kindness and truth, To those keeping His covenant, And His testimonies.

11 For Thy name's sake, O Jehovah, Thou hast pardoned mine iniquity, for it `is' great.

12 Who `is' this -- the man fearing Jehovah? He directeth him in the way He doth choose.

13 His soul in good doth remain, And his seed doth possess the land.

14 The secret of Jehovah `is' for those fearing Him, And His covenant -- to cause them to know.

15 Mine eyes `are' continually unto Jehovah, For He bringeth out from a net my feet.

16 Turn Thou unto me, and favour me, For lonely and afflicted `am' I.

17 The distresses of my heart have enlarged themselves, From my distresses bring me out.

18 See mine affliction and my misery, And bear with all my sins.

19 See my enemies, for they have been many, And with violent hatred they have hated me.

20 Keep my soul, and deliver me, Let me not be ashamed, for I trusted in Thee.

21 Integrity and uprightness do keep me, For I have waited `on' Thee.

22 Redeem Israel, O God, from all his distresses!

Psalms 25:1-22 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 {[A Psalm] of David.} Unto thee, Jehovah, do I lift up my soul.

2 My God, I confide in thee; let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

3 Yea, none that wait on thee shall be ashamed: they shall be ashamed that deal treacherously without cause.

4 Make me to know thy ways, O Jehovah; teach me thy paths.

5 Make me to walk in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

6 Remember, Jehovah, thy tender mercies and thy loving-kindnesses; for they are from everlasting.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to thy loving-kindness remember thou me, for thy goodness' sake, Jehovah.

8 Good and upright is Jehovah; therefore will he instruct 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 Jehovah are loving-kindness and truth for such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For thy name's sake, O Jehovah, thou wilt indeed pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

12 What man is he that feareth Jehovah? him will he instruct in the way [that] he should choose.

13 His soul shall dwell in prosperity, and his seed shall inherit the earth.

14 The secret of Jehovah is with them that fear him, that he may make known his covenant to them.

15 Mine eyes are ever toward Jehovah; for he will bring my feet out of the net.

16 Turn toward me, and be gracious unto me; for I am solitary and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are increased: bring me out of my distresses;

18 Consider mine affliction and my travail, and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider mine enemies, for they are many, and they hate me [with] cruel hatred.

20 Keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I 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 25:1-22 World English Bible (WEB)

1 > To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul.

2 My God, I have trusted in you, Don't let me be shamed. Don't let my enemies triumph over me.

3 Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed. They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause.

4 Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths.

5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long.

6 Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, For they are from old times.

7 Don't remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, For your goodness' sake, Yahweh.

8 Good and upright is Yahweh, Therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.

9 He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.

10 All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth To such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For your name's sake, Yahweh, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

12 What man is he who fears Yahweh? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.

13 His soul shall dwell at ease. His seed shall inherit the land.

14 The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.

15 My eyes are ever on Yahweh, For he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.

18 Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.

19 Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred.

20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for you.

22 Redeem Israel, God, Out all of his troubles.

Psalms 25:1-22 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 <Of David.> To you, O Lord, my soul is lifted up.

2 O my God, I have put my faith in you, let me not be shamed; let not my haters be glorying over me.

3 Let no servant of yours be put to shame; may those be shamed who are false without cause.

4 Make your steps clear to me, O Lord; give me knowledge of your ways.

5 Be my guide and teacher in the true way; for you are the God of my salvation; I am waiting for your word all the day.

6 O Lord, keep in mind your pity and your mercies; for they have been from the earliest times.

7 Do not keep in mind my sins when I was young, or my wrongdoing: let your memory of me be full of mercy, O Lord, because of your righteousness.

8 Good and upright is the Lord: so he will be the teacher of sinners in the way.

9 He will be an upright guide to the poor in spirit: he will make his way clear to them.

10 All the ways of the Lord are mercy and good faith for those who keep his agreement and his witness.

11 Because of your name, O Lord, let me have forgiveness for my sin, which is very great.

12 If a man has the fear of the Lord, the Lord will be his teacher in the way of his pleasure.

13 His soul will be full of good things, and his seed will have the earth for its heritage.

14 The secret of the Lord is with those in whose hearts is the fear of him; he will make his agreement clear to them.

15 My eyes are turned to the Lord at all times; for he will take my feet out of the net.

16 Be turned to me, and have mercy on me; for I am troubled and have no helper.

17 The troubles of my heart are increased: O take me out of my sorrows.

18 Give thought to my grief and my pain; and take away all my sins.

19 See how those who are against me are increased, for bitter is their hate of me.

20 O keep my soul, and take me out of danger: let me not be shamed, for I have put my faith in you.

21 For my clean and upright ways keep me safe, because my hope is in you.

22 Give Israel salvation, O God, out of all his troubles.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 25

Commentary on Psalms 25 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Psalm 25

This psalm is full of devout affection to God, the out-goings of holy desires towards his favour and grace and the lively actings of faith in his promises. We may learn out of it,

  • I. What it is to pray (v. 1, 15).
  • II. What we must pray for, the pardon of sin (v. 6, 7, 18), direction in the way of duty (v. 4, 5), the favour of God (v. 16), deliverance out of our troubles (v. 17, 18), preservation from our enemies (v. 20, 21), and the salvation of the church of God (v. 22).
  • III. What we may plead in prayer, our confidence in God (v. 2, 3, 5, 20, 21), our distress and the malice of our enemies (v. 17, 19), our sincerity (v. 21).
  • IV. What precious promises we have to encourage us in prayer, of guidance and instruction (v. 8, 9, 12), the benefit of the covenant (v. 10), and the pleasure of communion with God (v. 13, 14).

It is easy to apply the several passages of this psalm to ourselves in the singing of it; for we have often troubles, and always sins, to complain of at the throne of grace.

A psalm of David.

Psa 25:1-7

Here we have David's professions of desire towards God and dependence on him. He often begins his psalms with such professions, not to move God, but to move himself, and to engage himself to answer those professions.

  • I. He professes his desire towards God: Unto thee, O Lord! do I lift up my soul, v. 1. In the foregoing psalm (v. 4) it was made the character of a good man that he has not lifted up his soul to vanity; and a call was given to the everlasting gates to lift up their heads for the King of glory to come in, v. 7. To this character, to this call, David here answers, "Lord, I lift up my soul, not to vanity, but to thee.' Note, In worshipping God we must lift up our souls to him. Prayer is the ascent of the soul to God; God must be eyed and the soul employed. Sursum corda-Up with you hearts, was anciently used as a call to devotion. With a holy contempt of the world and the things of it, by a fixed thought and active faith, we must set God before us, and let out our desires towards him as the fountain of our happiness.
  • II. He professes his dependence upon God and begs for the benefit and comfort of that dependence (v. 2): O my God! I trust in thee. His conscience witnessed for him that he had no confidence in himself nor in any creature, and that he had no diffidence of God or of his power or promise. He pleases himself with this profession of faith in God. Having put his trust in God, he is easy, is well satisfied, and quiet from the fear of evil; and he pleads it with God whose honour it is to help those that honour him by trusting in him. What men put a confidence in is either their joy or their shame, according as it proves. Now David here, under the direction of faith, prays earnestly,
    • 1. That shame might not be his lot: "Let me not be ashamed of my confidence in thee; let me not be shaken from it by any prevailing fears, and let me not be, in the issue, disappointed of what I depend upon thee for; but, Lord, keep what I have committed unto thee.' Note, If we make our confidence in God our stay, it shall not be our shame; and, if we triumph in him, our enemies shall not triumph over us, as they would if we should now sink under our fears, or should, in the issue, come short of our hopes.
    • 2. That it might not be the lot of any that trusted in God. All the saints have obtained a like precious faith; and therefore, doubtless, it will be alike successful in the issue. Thus the communion of saints is kept up, even by their praying one for another. True saints will make supplication for all saints. It is certain that none who, by a believing attendance, wait on God, and, by a believing hope, wait for him, shall be made ashamed of it.
    • 3. That it might be the lot of the transgressors; Let those be ashamed that transgress without cause, or vainly, as the word is.
      • (1.) Upon no provocation. They revolt from God and their duty, from David and his government (so some), without any occasion given them, not being able to pretend any iniquity they have found in God, or that in any thing he has wearied them. The weaker the temptation is by which men are drawn to sin the stronger the corruption is by which they are driven by it. Those are the worst transgressors that sin for sinning-sake.
      • (2.) To no purpose. They know their attempts against God are fruitless; they imagine a vain thing, and therefore they will soon be ashamed of it.
  • III. He begs direction from God in the way of his duty, v. 4, 5. Once and again he here prays to God to teach him. He was a knowing man himself, but the most intelligent, the most observant, both need and desire to be taught of God; from him we must be ever learning. Observe,
    • 1. What he desired to learn: "Teach me, not fine words or fine notions, but thy ways, thy paths, thy truth, the ways in which thou walkest towards men, which are all mercy and truth (v. 10), and the ways in which thou wouldst have me to walk towards thee.' Those are best taught who understand their duty, and know the good things they should do, Eccl. 2:3. God's paths and his truth are the same; divine laws are all founded upon divine truths. The way of God's precepts is the way of truth, Ps. 119:30. Christ is both the way and the truth, and therefore we must learn Christ.
    • 2. What he desired of God, in order to this.
      • (1.) That he would enlighten his understanding concerning his duty: "Show me thy way, and so teach me.' In doubtful cases we should pray earnestly that God would make it plain to us what he would have us to do.
      • (2.) That he would incline his will to do it, and strengthen him in it: "Lead me, and so teach me.' Not only as we lead one that is dimsighted, to keep him from missing his way, but as we lead one that is sick, and feeble, and faint, to help him forward in the way and to keep him from fainting and falling. We go no further in the way to heaven than God is pleased to lead us and to hold us up.
    • 3. What he pleads,
      • (1.) His great expectation from God: Thou art the God of my salvation. Note, Those that choose salvation of God as their end, and make him the God of their salvation, may come boldly to him for direction in the way that leads to that end. If God save us, he will teach us and lead us. He that gives salvation will give instruction.
      • (2.) His constant attendance on God: On thee do I wait all the day. Whence should a servant expect direction what to do but from his own master, on whom he waits all the day? If we sincerely desire to know our duty, with a resolution to do it, we need not question but that God will direct us in it.
  • IV. He appeals to God's infinite mercy, and casts himself upon that, not pretending to any merit of his own (v. 6): "Remember, O Lord! thy tender mercies, and, for the sake of those mercies, lead me, and teach me; for they have been ever of old.'
    • 1. "Thou always wast a merciful God; it is thy name, it is thy nature and property, to show mercy.'
    • 2. "Thy counsels and designs of mercy were from everlasting; the vessels of mercy were, before all worlds, ordained to glory.'
    • 3. "The instances of thy mercy to the church in general, and to me in particular, were early and ancient, and constant hitherto; they began of old, and never ceased. Thou hast taught me from my youth up, teach me now.'
  • V. He is in a special manner earnest for the pardon of his sins (v. 7): "O remember not the sins of my youth. Lord, remember thy mercies (v. 6), which speak for me, and not my sins, which speak against me.' Here is,
    • 1. An implicit confession of sin; he specifies particularly the sins of his youth. Note, Our youthful faults and follies should be matter of our repentance and humiliation long after, because time does not wear out the guilt of sin. Old people should mourn for the sinful mirth and be in pain for the sinful pleasures of their youth. He aggravates his sins, calling them his transgressions; and the more holy, just, and good the law is, which sin is the transgression of, the more exceedingly sinful it ought to appear to us.
    • 2. An express petition for mercy,
      • (1.) That he might be acquitted from guilt: "Remember not the sins of my youth; that is, remember them not against me, lay them not to my charge, enter not into judgment with me for them.' When God pardons sin he is said to remember it no more, which denotes a plenary remission; he forgives and forgets.
      • (2.) That he might be accepted in God's sight: "Remember thou me; think on me for good, and come in seasonably for my succour.' We need desire no more to make us happy than for God to remember us with favour. His plea is, "according to thy mercy, and for thy goodness-sake.' Note, It is God's goodness and not ours, his mercy and not our own merit, that must be our plea for the pardon of sin and all the good we stand in need of. This plea we must always rely upon, as those that are sensible of our poverty and unworthiness and as those that are satisfied of the riches of God's mercy and grace.

Psa 25:8-14

God's promises are here mixed with David's prayers. Many petitions there were in the former part of the psalm, and many we shall find in the latter; and here, in the middle of the psalm, he meditates upon the promises, and by a lively faith sucks and is satisfied from these breasts of consolation; for the promises of God are not only the best foundation of prayer, telling us what to pray for and encouraging our faith and hope in prayer, but they are a present answer to prayer. Let the prayer be made according to the promise, and then the promise may be read as a return to the prayer; and we are to believe the prayer is heard because the promise will be performed. But, in the midst of the promises, we fine one petition which seems to come in somewhat abruptly, and should have followed upon v. 7. It is that (v. 11), Pardon my iniquity. But prayers for the pardon of sin are never impertinent; we mingle sin with all our actions, and therefore should mingle such prayers with all our devotions. He enforces this petition with a double plea. The former is very natural: "For thy name's sake pardon my iniquity, because thou hast proclaimed thy name gracious and merciful, pardoning iniquity, for thy glory-sake, for thy promise-sake, for thy own sake,' Isa. 43:25. But the latter is very surprising: "Pardon my iniquity, for it is great, and the greater it is the more will divine mercy be magnified in the forgiveness of it.' It is the glory of a great God to forgive great sins, to forgive iniquity, transgression, and sin, Ex. 34:7. "It is great, and therefore I an undone, for ever undone, if infinite mercy do not interpose for the pardon of it. It is great; I see it to be so.' The more we see of the heinousness of our sins the better qualified we are to find mercy with God. When we confess sin we must aggravate it.

Let us now take a view of the great and precious promises which we have in these verses, and observe,

  • I. To whom these promises belong and who may expect the benefit of them. We are all sinners; and can we hope for any advantage by them? Yes (v. 8), He will teach sinners, though they be sinners; for Christ came into the world to save sinners, and, in order to that, to teach sinners, to call sinners to repentance. These promises are sure to those who though they have been sinners, have gone astray, yet now keep God's word,
    • 1. To such as keep his covenant and his testimonies (v. 10), such as take his precepts for their rule and his promises for their portion, such as, having taken God to be to them a God, live upon that, and, having given up themselves to be him a people, live up to that. Though, through the infirmity of the flesh, they sometimes break the command, yet by a sincere repentance when at any time they do amiss, and a constant adherence by faith to God as their God, they keep the covenant and do not break that.
    • 2. To such as fear him (v. 12 and again v. 14), such as stand in awe of his majesty and worship him with reverence, submit to his authority and obey him with cheerfulness, dread his wrath and are afraid of offending him.
  • II. Upon what these promises are grounded, and what encouragement we have to build upon them. Here are two things which ratify and confirm all the promises:-
    • 1. The perfections of God's nature. We value the promise by the character of him that makes its. We may therefore depend upon God's promises; for good and upright is the Lord, and therefore he will be as good as his word. He is so kind that he cannot deceive us, so true that he cannot break his promise. Faithful is he who hath promised, who also will do it. He was good in making the promise, and therefore will be upright in performing it.
    • 2. The agreeableness of all he says and does with the perfections of his nature (v. 10): All the paths of the Lord (that is, all his promises and all his providences) are mercy and truth; they are, like himself, good and upright. All God's dealings with his people are according to the mercy of his purposes and the truth of his promises; all he does comes from love, covenant-love; and they may see in it his mercy displayed and his word fulfilled. What a rich satisfaction may this be to good people, that, whatever afflictions they are exercised with, All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, and so it will appear when they come to their journey's end.
  • III. What these promises are.
    • 1. That God will instruct and direct them in the way of their duty. This is most insisted upon, because it is an answer to David's prayers (v. 4, 5), Show me thy ways and lead me. We should fix our thoughts, and act our faith, most on those promises which suit our present case.
      • (1.) He will teach sinners in the way, because they are sinners, and therefore need teaching. When they see themselves sinners, and desire teaching, then he will teach them the way of reconciliation to God, the way to a well-grounded peace of conscience, and the way to eternal life. He does, by his gospel, make this way known to all, and, by his Spirit, open the understanding and guide penitent sinners that enquire after it. The devil leads men blindfold to hell, but God enlightens men's eyes, sets things before them in a true light, and so leads them to heaven.
      • (2.) The meek will he guide, the meek will he teach, that is, those that are humble and low in their own eyes, that are distrustful of themselves, desirous to be taught, and honestly resolved to follow the divine guidance. Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears. These he will guide in judgment, that is, by the rule of the written word; he will guide them in that which is practical, which relates to sin and duty, so that they may keep conscience void of offence; and he will do it judiciously (so some), that is, he will suit his conduct to their case; he will teach sinners with wisdom, tenderness, and compassion, and as they are able to bear. He will teach them his way. All good people make God's way their way, and desire to be taught that; and those that do so shall be taught and led in that way.
      • (3.) Him that feareth the Lord he will teach in the way that he shall choose, either in the way that God shall choose or that the good man shall choose. It comes all to one, for he that fears the Lord chooses the things that please him. If we choose the right way, he that directed our choice will direct our steps, and will lead us in it. If we choose wisely, God will give us grace to walk wisely.
    • 2. That God will make them easy (v. 13): His soul shall dwell at ease, shall lodge in goodness, marg. Those that devote themselves to the fear of God, and give themselves to be taught of God, will be easy, if it be not their own fault. The soul that is sanctified by the grace of God, and, much more, that is comforted by the peace of God, dwells at ease. Even when the body is sick and lies in pain, yet the soul may dwell at ease in God, may return to him, and repose in him as its rest. Many things occur to make us uneasy, but there is enough in the covenant of grace to counterbalance them all and to make us easy.
    • 3. That he will give to them and theirs as much of this world as is good for them: His seed shall inherit the earth. Next to our care concerning our souls is our care concerning our seed, and God has a blessing in store for the generation of the upright. Those that fear God shall inherit the earth, shall have a competency in it and the comfort of it, and their children shall fare the better for their prayers when they are gone.
    • 4. That God will admit them into the secret of communion with himself (v. 14): The secret of the Lord is with those that fear him. They understand his word; for, if any man do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, Jn. 7:17. Those that receive the truth in the love of it, and experience the power of it, best understand the mystery of it. They know the meaning of his providence, and what God is doing with them, better than others. Shall I hide from Abraham the things that I do? Gen. 18:17. He call them not servants, but friends, as he called Abraham. They know by experience the blessings of the covenant and the pleasure of that fellowship which gracious souls have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. This honour have all his saints.

Psa 25:15-22

David, encouraged by the promises he had been meditating upon, here renews his addresses to God, and concludes the psalm, as he began, with professions of dependence upon God and desire towards him.

  • I. He lays open before God the calamitous condition he was in. His feet were in the net, held fast and entangled, so that he could not extricate himself out of his difficulties, v. 15. He was desolate and afflicted, v. 16. It is common for those that are afflicted to be desolate; their friends desert them then, and they are themselves disposed to sit alone and keep silence, Lam. 3:28. David calls himself desolate and solitary because he depended not upon his servants and soldiers, but relied as entirely upon God as if he had no prospect at all of help and succour from any creature. Being in distress, in many distresses, the troubles of his heart were enlarged (v. 17), he grew more and more melancholy and troubled in mind. Sense of sin afflicted him more than any thing else: this it was that broke and wounded his spirit, and made his outward troubles lie heavily upon him. He was in affliction and pain, v. 18. His enemies that persecuted him were many and malicious (they hated him), and very barbarous; it was with a cruel hatred that they hated him, v. 19. Such were Christ's enemies and the persecutors of his church.
  • II. He expresses the dependence he had upon God in these distresses (v. 15): My eyes are ever towards the Lord. Idolaters were for gods that they could see with their bodily eyes, and they had their eyes ever towards their idols, Isa. 17:7, 8. But it is an eye of faith that we must have towards God, who is a Spirit, Zec. 9:1. Our meditation of him must be sweet, and we must always set him before us: in all our ways we must acknowledge him and do all to his glory. Thus we must live a life of communion with God, not only in ordinances, but in providences, not only in acts of devotion, but in the whole course of our conversation. David had the comfort of this in his affliction; for, because his eyes were ever towards the Lord, he doubted not but he would pluck his feet out of the net, that he would deliver him from the corruptions of his own heart (so some), from the designs of his enemies against him, so others. Those that have their eye ever towards God shall not have their feet long in the net. He repeats his profession of dependence upon God (v. 20)-Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in thee; and of expectation from him-I wait on thee, v. 21. It is good thus to hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
  • III. He prays earnestly to God for relief and succour,
    • 1. For himself.
      • (1.) See how he begs,
        • [1.] For the remission of sin (v. 18): Forgive all my sins. Those were his heaviest burdens, and which brought upon him all other burdens. He had begged (v. 7) for the pardon of the sins of his youth, and (v. 11) for the pardon of some one particular iniquity that was remarkably great, which some think, was his sin in the matter of Uriah. But her he prays, Lord, forgive all, take away all iniquity. It is observable that, as to his affliction, he asks for no more than God's regard to it: "Look upon my affliction and my pain, and do with it as thou pleasest.' But, as to his sin, he asks for no less than a full pardon: Forgive all my sins. When at any time we are in trouble we should be more concerned about our sins, to get them pardoned, than about our afflictions, to get them removed. Yet he prays,
        • [2.] For the redress of his grievances. His mind was troubled for God's withdrawings from him and under the sense he had of his displeasure against him for his sins; and therefore he prays (v. 16), Turn thou unto me. And, if God turn to us, no matter who turns from us. His condition was troubled, and, in reference to that, he prays, "O bring thou me out of my distresses. I see no way of deliverance open; but thou canst either find one or make one.' His enemies were spiteful; and in reference to that, he prays, "O keep my soul from falling into their hands, or else deliver me out of their hands.'
      • (2.) Four things he mentions by way of plea to enforce these petitions, and refers himself and them to God's consideration:-
        • [1.] He pleads God's mercy: Have mercy upon me. Men of the greatest merits would be undone if they had not to do with a God of infinite mercies.
        • [2.] He pleads his own misery, the distress he was in, his affliction and pain, especially the troubles of his heart, all which made him the proper object of divine mercy.
        • [3.] He pleads the iniquity of his enemies: "Lord, consider them, how cruel they are, and deliver me out of their hands.'
        • [4.] He pleads his own integrity, v. 12. Though he had owned himself guilty before God, and had confessed his sins against him, yet, as to his enemies, he had the testimony of his conscience that he had done them no wrong, which was his comfort when they hated him with cruel hatred; and he prays that this might preserve him, This intimates that he did not expect to be safe any longer than he continued in his integrity and uprightness, and that, while he did continue in it, he did not doubt of being safe. Sincerity will be our best security in the worst of times. Integrity and uprightness will be a man's preservation more than the wealth and honour of the world can be. These will preserve us to the heavenly kingdom. We should therefore pray to God to preserve us in our integrity and then be assured that that will preserve us.
    • 2. For the church of God (v. 22): Redeem Israel, O God! out of all his troubles. David was now in trouble himself, but he thinks it not strange, since trouble is the lot of all God's Israel. Why should any one member fare better than the whole body? David's troubles were enlarged, and very earnest he was with God to deliver him, yet he forgets not the distresses of God's church; for, when we have ever so much business of our own at the throne of grace, we must still remember to pray for the public. Good men have little comfort in their own safety while the church is in distress and danger. This prayer is a prophecy that God would, at length, give David rest, and therewith give Israel rest from all their enemies round about. It is a prophecy of the sending of the Messiah in due time to redeem Israel from his iniquities (Ps. 130:8) and so to redeem them from their troubles. It refers also to the happiness of the future state. In heaven, and in heaven only, will God's Israel be perfectly redeemed from all troubles.