Psalms 25 · Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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.