Jamieson–Fausset–Brown CommentaryPsalms 25

PSALM 25

Psa 25:1-22. 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.

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

2. not be ashamed--by disappointment of hopes of relief.

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 2Sa 22:9).

4-5. On the ground of former favor, he invokes divine guidance, according to God's gracious ways of dealing and faithfulness.

6-7. Confessing past and present sins, he pleads for mercy, not on palliations of sin, but on God's well-known benevolence.

8-9. 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.

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.

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.

12-13. What he asks for himself is the common lot of all the pious.

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

15. His trust in God is fixed. net--is frequently used as a figure for dangers by enemies (Psa 9:15; 10:9).

16-19. A series of earnest appeals for aid because God had seemed to desert him (compare Psa 13:1; 17:13, &c.), his sins oppressed him, his enemies had enlarged his troubles and were multiplied, increasing in hate and violence (Psa 9:8; 18:48).

20. keep my soul--(Psa 16:1). put my trust--flee for refuge (Psa 2:12).

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.

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