Psalm 25 A Psalm of David.
Verses 1-2 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.
King David begins this Psalm by declaring that he trusts in the LORD and entrusts his soul (mind, will, and emotions) to the LORD. Therefore he does not want his enemies to triumph in any way over him because his testimony is one of trusting in the LORD rather than in men. He wants that testimony to remain honored by the LORD God.
Verse 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
Instead, King Davids asks the LORD to let those who do not follow Him to be ashamed instead of the people of the LORD because those without the LORD are sinning and transgressing God’s law. The Hebrew word translated as “transgress” is “bagad” and it means to act or deal treacherously, deceitfully, or to offend.
Verses 4-5 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.
King David is expressing a deep desire to know God and to be able to follow His paths and to understand His truth. He knows that there is no other means of salvation other than the LORD. When he prays to God, King David is willing to wait all day or however long it takes to get an answer.
Application: Today’s Christians are impatient and they want answers to their prayers and petitions of the LORD right away. Very few can say what King David says in the verse above: that they will wait upon the LORD all the day. So how does the Christian learn the ways of God and understand truth? Through daily Bible study and prayer or heart to heart talks with the LORD. He will reveal Himself through His Word as He is the Word and He is truth. ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God.” John 1:1 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
Verses 6-7 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.
Here King David reminds the LORD of His mercies and kindnesses which have been since mankind first walked on the Earth. And King David wants the LORD to forget all the wrong things he has done in his life and to have mercy on him.
Application: Try to imagine yourself meeting in a congregation of people and having this Psalm sung to you. Is it not the desire of your heart to have the LORD forget all your sins and to have mercy upon you? Hearing this song should remind you of what is now known in these New Testament days and under the New Covenant, things that King David and the people of his day did not have knowledge of. You no longer have to kill a critter and have a priest be an intermediary for you before God, but you have 24/7 access to His throne and to His forgiveness. How wonderful is that?
Verses 8-11 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.
Because of the character of the LORD which is righteous, good and upright, He will reach out to the unrepentant sinners and call them to Himself. The Hebrew word translated as “meek” is “anav” and it means poor, humble, afflicted, meek, needy weak, and lowly. These are the people the world ignores and has little regard for. But God loves them and will, according to King David, guide them and teach them His ways. And those people who are truly keeping His covenant and following after Him will have mercy and truth in their earthly lives. Again, King David asks the LORD to pardon that which he has thought, said, or done to displease a Holy God.
Verses 12-14 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.
The Hebrew word translated as “feareth” is “yare” and it means to have a reverent attitude and approach to the Creator of the Earth and everything in and on it. It does not mean to be afraid in the sense of feeling threatened. That kind of fear where the adrenaline flows and one wants to run away is from an evil spirit. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment, He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 The “eth” ending means that fearing the LORD is ongoing and is the way the righteous are to think and behave. Those who fear the LORD are able to be taught by the Holy Ghost/Spirit the ways of the LORD and His Kingdom. those who fear the LORD will have peace regardless of what turmoil may be going on around them in the world or in their personal lives. Those who fear the LORD can rely on Him to care for and to provide for their physical children and they will inherit eternal life and the new Heavens and new Earth that will be provided when this one is destroyed by the coming of Jesus Christ. Those who fear the LORD will understand their Creator and follow His covenant.
Verses 15-18 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.
King David was a man who feared the LORD and who was always looking to the LORD for everything in his life. He had faith to believe that the LORD would protect him in battle and lead him in his role as king of Israel, and the LORD honored that faith over and over again as seen in the historical books of the Old Testament (Kings and Chronicles). This was not to say that David did not worry or think about his troubles. He did, but he prayed and turned his difficulties over to the LORD and he had the assurance that if he committed sin, the LORD would forgive him.
Verses 19-22 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. (Psalm 25)
This last portion of King David’s Psalm can have first a natural meaning in that David had many enemies and was always facing threat from these enemies. He was upright and had integrity which the LORD knew well so that David was considered a man after the LORD’s own heart. However, the spiritual meaning of these last verses are prophetic of the LORD Jesus Christ who also had many enemies: all the powers of darkness, the leaders of Judah, and the Jewish people he was ministering to.