Psalm 25

SLIDE 1 I hope that last’s weeks introduction to the Psalms was helpful. Though the superscriptions found before so many of the psalms were not original to the authors of the individual psalms, they can be very helpful to understanding the psalm and its background. We were able to go over a few of the psalms and how they would have been sung by identifying the chorus and verses. I wish it were easy to identify the parts of all the psalms. We need to remember though, that the psalms were written to be sung.

Tonight we are in Psalm 25. All we’re told in the superscription concerning this psalm is that it was written by David. We don’t know the occasion for its writing or its background. We can assume that it was written during the time David was hiding from Saul. It is also safe to assume that he was facing some sort of trouble.

Two notes before we get into the psalm. First, the psalm was written as an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet with each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It’s is difficult to translate the acrostics psalms into English and keep the acrostic, but one commentator put it this way to help us see it. SLIDE 2

Always will I trust you o Lord.

Believing have I waited upon you.

Concerned have I been about my heart before you.

That’s not a good translation of this psalm, but you get the idea.

Second, there are two central themes of the psalm that are repeated throughout – prayer and meditation – which can be used to help outline the psalm. SLIDE 3

Meditation (25:1)

Prayer (25:2-7)

Meditation (25:8-10)

Prayer (25:11)

Meditation (25:12-15)

Prayer (25:16-22)

David makes a request for help in the three prayer sections and in the meditation sections he reflects on how God can be trusted to answer those requests.

David starts this psalm with a mediation, declaring his trust in God. SLIDE 4

1 In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. (Psalm 25:1)

The KJV and others translate this verse as:

I lift up my soul.

That is the more accurate translation. The soul is the essence of our being. More than just our physical body, the soul includes our emotions, our passions, and desires. It’s who we are. But what does it mean to lift up your soul to God? It means to trust God. David is saying, “I give my life to you. I put my trust in you.”

We define idolatry as worshiping an idol, but it is also trusting in something more than we trust God. David isn’t trusting in some idol to deliver him. He isn’t trusting in his own strength or intelligence. Nor does he place his trust in the might of his army. Instead, he is trusting in God. David trusts in God alone. In so doing he is both surrendering and submitting his life to God.

How often do you tell God about your trust in him? Since we make requests of God it is assumed that we believe he will answer, but do we tell God that we trust him no matter how he answers. David tells God that he trusts him. He repeats that claim in the next verse.

2 I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. (Psalm 25:2-3)

David expresses his trust in God’s faithfulness and justice. God is faithful. David fully expected God to rescue him from his enemies for no one who hopes in and waits for God will be put to shame. They will not be let down.

In verse 3, the Hebrew says “none that wait” on the Lord will be put to shame. What does it mean to wait on God? We discussed this Sunday evening. It means to have patience with God’s timing. It also means to hope in and to trust. David states that no one who places their hope in God will regret having trusted him.

SLIDE 5 Does anyone remember the Peanuts special “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”? Lucy’s little brother Linus is certain that every Halloween the Great Pumpkin will appears at the most sincere pumpkin patch and bring presents to the who are there waiting for it. SLIDE 6 While everyone else goes out trick-or-treating, Linus convinces Charlie Brown’s little sister Sally to wait with him in a pumpkin patch. After waiting all evening, the Great Pumpkin never appears. SLIDE 7 The only thing they ever see is Snoopy sneaking through the pumpkin patch dressed at the Red Barron. SLIDE 8 Eventually, Sally gets mad for trusting Linus and spending her night waiting in a pumpkin patch instead of having fun with her friends. She waited for nothing and felt stupid for believing him. She’d become a laughing stock before her friends. Not so with those who trust in God. They will not be put to shame. When we trust in God we will not be disappointed.

SLIDE 9 David also puts his trust in God’s justice when he says that the ones who will be put to shame are those who practice evil.

4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)

David appeals to God for guidance. He understood that he needed God’s guidance which sometimes included correction. If he wasn’t on the right path, David wanted God to put him on it. “If I’m not going the right direction, show me so I can follow it.” Remember David’s prayer in Psalm 139. SLIDE 10

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23)

It may not have always been pleasant, but David sought after God’s correction and discipline because he knew he would be the better for it. Do you pray, seeking God’s guidance and correction? It is better for God to correct us privately than to be corrected publically. No one who follows God’s ways will ever be led into sin or compromise. SLIDE 11

In the next two verses, David is going to ask God to remember, but also to forget.

6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. (Psalm 25:6-7)

There are two important words in verse 6. The first is mercy or compassion. In 2 Samuel 24, David did something he knew he shouldn’t do and was advised not to do by his counselors, he had all the men in Israel of counting age counted. Doing so demonstrated a lack of faith in God. He was trusting in the size of his army. As soon as it had been done and the report was read to him, David realized his sin.

The next morning God sent a prophet to him. God was going to allow David to choose his own punishment: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from his enemy, or three days of plague. Unable to choose, David throws himself at the mercy of God. SLIDE 12

David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” (2 Samuel 24:14)

SLIDE 13 God’s mercy refers to his sympathetic and sensitive love.

The word for love in verse 6 is chesed. It is the closest word the Hebrew has to the Greek word apage. In the New Testament the word agape is important because it describes the love of God to send his only Son. It describes the love of Jesus for us when he willingly died on the cross for our sins. It is the word to describe how we are to care for each other. There is no equivalent word in Hebrew. There is however, the word chesed. It means “goodness, kindness, and faithfulness.” It describes how God cares for his people even when they break the agreement they made with God to keep his commands. God is good. He is kind. He is always faithful, even when his people are not.

David comments that God’s mercy and love are of old. They are not new with David, but go back generations. From the beginning God showed mercy and love. We can see them in his dealing with Adam and Eve, with Cain, with Noah, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and in his dealings with the Israelites. Because of what God had done in the past, David asks that God would continue to show his mercy and love.

David asks that God would remember to show mercy and loving kindness. It’s not that God forgets, but it’s more that David needs to remember. However, David does not want God to remember his sins. “Try to forget all the ways I’ve messed up over the years.” Instead, remember me according to your steadfast love or chesed. As one commentator wrote:

When God remembers his mercies, he forgets our sins.

8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. (Psalm 25:8-10)

David reflects on the guidance God gives. This too is a declaration of faith. God leads those who go astray back to the right path.

Some may conclude that because God is holy that he can’t stand sinners. Or, because of his holiness God destroys sinners. But that’s not what David says. David says that because God is good and upright he instructs sinners. God wants to show sinners the right way.

Isn’t that how God treated Cain? Cain asked God why he was in such a bad mood and then told him that if he did what was right he would be accepted. The problem is Cain didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t want to be told that what he was doing was wrong.

It’s still like that today. People don’t want to be told they’re wrong. We don’t like our sin being pointed out. But God only does it for our good. The humble receive God’s instruction. God shows them what is right, teaching them his ways. God’s ways are always right. He will never lead us astray.

Those who are willing to be taught will be shown God’s ways. What more can we ask for? As Paul wrote to Timothy: SLIDE 14

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. SLIDE 15 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

And as Peter wrote: SLIDE 16

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

God isn’t seeking to destroy us; he wants to save us from our sins and from ourselves. God teaches those sinners who are willing to learn, his ways. SLIDE 17

Sin keeps from God. But more than sin, it’s our pride that keeps us from God. If we are humble and repentant, God is willing to forgive. In the Garden of Eden, God called out to Adam, asking where he was. God knew where Adam was. Adam couldn’t hide from God. God was giving Adam a chance to repent. Adam replied to God’s call saying that he hid because he was naked and afraid. How did God respond? God asked Adam how he knew he was naked. God then asked if Adam had eaten from the tree of knowledge. God already knew the answers to those questions. He was giving Adam a chance to repent. But how did Adam answer God’s questions? Instead of repenting, Adam blamed Eve and God. SLIDE 18

The man said, “The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12)

David says that when we humble ourselves before God that he will teach us his ways. God will lead us with his unfailing love and faithfulness if we will stay in his word and do what it says. But when we fail, we have to repent. The Bible tells us that God is slow to anger and that he forgives when we repent. SLIDE 19

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

SLIDE 20 David was aware of his sins and asked God to forgive him.

11 For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. (Psalm 25:11)

David calls on God to forgive him for God’s name’s sake. David calls on God to do what his word says he will do which is forgive the humble, repentant sinner. David asks God to show those promises to be true.

Because we don’t know the circumstances for writing the psalm, we don’t know what sins David was talking about, but he seems to have something specific in mind. Whatever it was, it was weighing heavily upon him. Being so aware of his sin, he cries out to God to forgive him.

And notice what David says about his sin, he says his sin is great.

Can you imagine a criminal standing before a judge asking for a pardon because his crimes have been great? “Your honor, please pardon me because my crimes have been many and large.” How do you think that would go over in a courtroom? Yet that is what David is saying. David isn’t trying to hide his sin or make it seem smaller than it was. He was humbly admitting his sin as he asked God to forgive him.

We have no small sin against God. All our sins against God are great and each is deserving of his judgment. We know God’s commands and break them anyway. We have greatly sinned against him and should be ready to admit it. And when we do we will find forgiveness from God.

12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. 13 They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. 14 The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. (Psalm 25:12-14)

Once again David turns to meditation, reflecting on the goodness of God. The fear David talks about here is not a cowering fear, but it is a reverential awe of God. When we consider who God is and the power he has we should be in awe of God. To those who have such fear, David says, God will not ignore. To those who trust him, he will teach. God will not leave them to hopefully find the right way. Instead, to those who look to him, God will show the path they should choose.

How often do you seek God’s will for your life? We have choices and decisions we need to make all the time. God doesn’t try to hide the best choice from us. He isn’t making it a guessing game. When we trust in him and seek his guidance, God will make it known.

David talks about those who fear God living in prosperity. The word refers to one who has a good and pleasant life. It is actually the same word God used to describe creation. Six times God calls what he made good. SLIDE 21

And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25)

And then, on a seventh time, after looking over all that he had made, God said that it was very good. David says that those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways will have a good and pleasant life. Isn’t that really what we want? People claw and fight their way to the top trying to make a name for themselves, but in the end what we really want is a good and pleasant life for ourselves and our children. That life is only found in God.

SLIDE 22 David then spoke of the greatest blessing – knowing God and his ways. To those who fear him, the Lord is a friend. God called Abraham his friend. God said that he spoke to Moses “face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11). Jesus called the disciples his friends. And he says that we are his friends if we obey his commands. Because of that friendship, God teaches them his ways. Paul told the Corinthians: SLIDE 23

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

The ways of God can only be understood with his help. Ask that God would help you to know, understand, and follow his ways. SLIDE 24

15 My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. (Psalm 25:15)

David understood the value of keeping his focus on God. Why is that important? It’s important because it is God who will bring him help.

David describes his situation like being in a net, a trap, or snare. He felt caught and unable to escape. Notice, David didn’t say, “for God ‘has’ released my feet,” but that God ‘will’ release his feet. That means that he still felt trapped. However, David makes this declaration of faith because he is confident God will act on his behalf.

There are times when we may feel trapped. It’s not that we’re in a physical trap, but we just feel hemmed in with no good way out. We don’t know where to go. Like David we must trust in God. And like David we need to declare that trust in God.

The psalm ends with David’s petitions for help.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. (Psalm 25:16-17)

In verse 15, David declared his attention was on God. Now David asks that God’s attention be on him. David needs God’s help. He describes himself as being: lonely, afflicted, his heart is troubled and he’s in anguish. This psalm was written out of his distress. David is not the only one to experience such difficulties. David echoes David’s sentiments in his letter to the Corinthians. SLIDE 25

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

SLIDE 26 David and Paul experience great suffering, yet they trusted in God and looked to him for their help. Their problems did not destroy their faith in God as they do for so many. Is there a pain or a problem that would cause you to turn your back on God? I would hope not.

18 Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. (Psalm 25:18)

I think it’s interesting that after listing the problems he’s facing (loneliness, affliction, troubles and anguish) that David then asks God once again to forgive his sins. Were his sins the cause of his problems? We don’t know. We may be reminded though of Jesus’ comment to the paralytic brought to him for healing. Everyone there knew what the man’s problem was. He couldn’t walk. Yet the first words out of Jesus’ mouth were:

Son, your sins are forgiven. (Mark 2:5b)

There is an emotional and sometimes physical healing that comes with the forgiveness of sins.

19 See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you. (Psalm 25:19-21)

David first deals with his “inner” enemies and sin, and then he deals with his outer enemies. They are both numerous and great.

22 Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles! (Psalm 25:22)

Though it sits in a section of psalms written while Saul was king, we don’t know if this psalm was written before or after he was made king. Whenever it was written, we see in this final verse David’s concern not only for himself but for the people. It is so easy when we are facing problems to be solely focused on ourselves. David prays for others. He understood that he was not the only one with problems. They needed help too and it could only come from God.

A.W. Tozer said that the most important thing about you is what you think about God. This is especially true when we face problems. Two questions:

Do you believe that God is able to provide for you? David did.

Do you believe that God will provide you? David did.

I mentioned when we looked at Psalm 22 that there are passages of the Bible that are helpful for directing our prayers. Because Psalm 22 so closely describes what happened to Jesus on the cross, I don’t think it is one of the passages. However, Psalm 25 is. Psalm 25 is a great psalm to use as your prayer to God.

1) Meditation (25:1)

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.

2) Prayer (25:2-7)

4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.

3) Meditation (25:8-10)

4) Prayer (25:11)

11 For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

5) Meditation (25:12-15)

15 My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

6) Prayer (25:16-22)

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.

18 Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

22 Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Related Media

Related Sermons