Psalm 25
Pastor Mark Hudson
One way to see the structure of Psalm 25 is as follows:
1-7 Prayer of confidence in God and repentance
8-14 Confidence in God’s covenantal love
15-21 Prayer for help to God
22 Prayer for all believers
As a reader of the Bible knows, there is not one outline everyone agrees on. Yet, this is a simple outline that we can use. This Psalm is sometimes called an individual lament, but this may also be called a prayer of confidence. We will see a number of themes that we have seen before and will continue to see. If you were reading this in Hebrew, you could also see the acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet. One aspect of this psalm you will notice is the intentional looking to God while praising Him yet repenting and expressing humble requests for forgiveness. Then the knowledge that God forgives His people causes the psalmist to worship God.
In verses 1-7, the author pleads with God. He makes his prayer to God using the expression ‘I will lift up my soul’ to God. He does not ask for help from a politician, a business leader, or a religious leader, but primarily to God. He asks for help, so his enemies do not exalt over him and his cause. Although he knows God will listen and act, he pleads for his own needs to God. No one who trusts God will ever ‘be put to shame’ rather those who disobey, and disregard God will be ashamed.
In verse 4, David or whomever the author is, asks for knowledge of God and His ways. He wants to learn so he can obey. God is the ‘God of my salvation’ according to David. He is not basing his faith on emotion, but God’s revealed will found in His Word. He wants to be held accountable. He knows that being accountable means your life counts for something. Not being accountable means your life does not count. He is taught, not by special revelation, but by human teachers but still he pleads for God to teach him or send godly teachers.
As he thinks of the greatness of God, His mercy and ‘Your steadfast love’ in v. 6, he remembers that God’s attributes are ‘from of old.’ God has always been merciful and expressed covenantal love from before the beginning of time. As the psalmists considers the majesty and overwhelming glory of God he next thinks of his own life and pleads for forgiveness. He hurriedly asks that while he wants God to remember His own mercy, to not remember (or hold him accountable for) his sins. He has committed sins he knows so know he asks God to remember His steadfast love. Remember Your mercy; don’t remember my sins; remember Your covenantal love.
Now the author expresses his confidence in God’s character: that He is good and upright. God is the one who has an eye on the humble and teaches (only?) the humble His way. The psalmist knows that God only gives to ‘those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.’ God makes no promise to the ungodly nor does He hear their prayer or give them His protection or love (vs. 9-10). The person who fears God, that is. the one who has a godly reverence for His power and goodness, wants to be instructed in His ways. God ‘makes known to them His covenant’ (v. 14).
In vs 15ff, the psalmist expresses genuine grief, loneliness, and affliction. He writes that the troubles of his heart are enlarged. He pleads for God to ‘consider my affliction and trouble, and forgive all my sins’ in v. 18. Is this a tacit acknowledgement that maybe his sins have contributed to his affliction? Or maybe the psalmists is not clear but asks for forgiveness as he does in v. 7, 11, and here in v. 18.
Throughout all these pleas and requests, the psalmist still holds onto his confidence in God. “O guard my soul, and deliverer me! In v. 21, his confidence is expressed in this short phrase, ‘I wait for you.’ The last verse expands this individual lament or prayer of confidence to all believers. We will always have trouble in this life. Sometimes we bring troubles on our own lives; at other times, others sin against us. Yet, individually or corporately, we still look to God for our help.
Dear heavenly Father may Your name be respected and honored here on earth. We long that all people would love and obey You. We also pray for ourselves because we need Your help every hour of every day. We can be our own worst enemy yet, You are always the greatest good in our lives. Help us to trust in Your covenant love and to realize that waiting for You is part of trusting You. Deliver us from our many troubles and be gracious to us. In Christ’s all glorious name. Amen.