Psalm Twenty Five

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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A Psalm of David.

Psalm 25:1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

Unto thee, O Lord. Psalm 25 is essentially an acrostic poem, with each of its twenty-two verses beginning with the successive twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

lift up my soul. Lifting up one's hands or eyes may give an outward show of piety, but this is meaningless unless one's soul is lifted up.

Psalm 25:2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Psalm 25:3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Psalm 25:4 Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

Psalm 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

thy truth. “Thy word is truth,” Jesus said (John 17:17) and as He is the living Word, He could also say, “I am ... the truth” (John 14:6). As an acrostic, this psalm has a natural emphasis on the very letters of divinely given human language, and thus appropriately emphasizes God's truth.

Psalm 25:6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

tender mercies. This is the first of ten references in the Old Testament (all in the Book of Psalms) to God's “tender mercies” (one word in the Hebrew). There are two New Testament references to God's “tender mercy” (Luke 1:78; James 5:11). The association here with God's “loving kindness” is a beautifully felicitous choice of words to describe God's great love for His people.

Psalm 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

Psalm 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

Psalm 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

mercy and truth. God's mercy must always be in harmony with His truth, for both will endure forever (note Psalm 100:5). Mercy and truth are also mentioned together in Psalm 40:11; 57:3; 61:7; 85:10 (in which “mercy and truth are met together”); 89:14; 98:3; 115:1; 138:2, as well as others. Note especially Psalm 26:3.

his covenant. This is the first of twenty-one references in the book of Psalms to God's covenant with His people.

Psalm 25:11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

Psalm 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

Psalm 25:13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.

fear him. Those who fear the Lord have nothing else to fear, for they are under His everlasting covenant.

Psalm 25:15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Psalm 25:16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

Psalm 25:17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

Psalm 25:18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

Psalm 25:19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

Psalm 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

Psalm 25:22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.