The Linked Word Project

Introduction to chapter 25

The general tone of this Psalm is that of prayer for help from enemies. Distress, however, exciting a sense of sin, humble confession, supplication for pardon, preservation from sin, and divine guidance, are prominent topics. (Psa. 25:1-22)

lift up my soul — (Psa 24:4; Psa 86:4), set my affections (compare Col 3:2).

Psalms 25:2

not be ashamed — by disappointment of hopes of relief.

Psalms 25:3

The prayer generalized as to all who wait on God — that is, who expect His favor. On the other hand, the disappointment of the perfidious, who, unprovoked, have done evil, is invoked (compare Sa2 22:9).

Psalms 25:4

On the ground of former favor, he invokes divine guidance, according to God's gracious ways of dealing and faithfulness.

Psalms 25:6

Confessing past and present sins, he pleads for mercy, not on palliations of sin, but on God's well-known benevolence.

Psalms 25:8

upright — acting according to His promise.

sinners — the general term, limited by the

meek — who are penitent.

the way — and his way — God's way of providence.

Psalms 25:9

in judgment — rightly.

Psalms 25:10

paths — similar sense — His modes of dealing (compare Psa 25:4).

mercy and truth — (Job 14:1-22), God's grace in promising and faithfulness in performing.

Psalms 25:11

God's perfections of love, mercy, goodness, and truth are manifested (his name, compare Psa 9:10) in pardoning sin, and the greatness of sin renders pardon more needed.

Psalms 25:12

What he asks for himself is the common lot of all the pious.

Psalms 25:13

inherit the earth — (compare Mat 5:5). The phrase, alluding to the promise of Canaan, expresses all the blessings included in that promise, temporal as well as spiritual.

Psalms 25:14

The reason of the blessing explained — the pious enjoy communion with God (compare Pro 3:21, Pro 3:12), and, of course, learn His gracious terms of pardon.

Psalms 25:15

His trust in God is fixed.

net — is frequently used as a figure for dangers by enemies (Psa 9:15; Psa 10:9).

Psalms 25:16

A series of earnest appeals for aid because God had seemed to desert him (compare Psa 13:1; Psa 17:13, &c.), his sins oppressed him, his enemies had enlarged his troubles and were multiplied, increasing in hate and violence (Psa 9:8; Psa 18:48).

Psalms 25:20

keep my soul — (Psa 16:1).

put my trust — flee for refuge (Psa 2:12).

Psalms 25:21

In conscious innocence of the faults charged by his enemies, he confidently commits his cause to God. Some refer —

integrity, &c. — to God, meaning His covenant faithfulness. This sense, though good, is an unusual application of the terms.

Psalms 25:22

Extend these blessings to all Thy people in all their distresses.