Psalm 25:1-7 To you, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.… Belongs probably to the time of the Exile. Its prevailing thought is that God is the Teacher of the afflicted and the Guide of the erring; and this is constantly repeated, either in the way of statement or of prayer. The first seven verses contain three things. I. ASPIRING TRUST IN GOD. (Vers. 1-3.) Seeking, drawn towards, lifting himself up towards God, waiting upon him, - all signify the earnest, confident trust in God, which is the highest act of the soul towards the great Invisible Being. This is associated with obedience; for transgressors will be confounded; they have no ground for expecting salvation, and will be made ashamed. II. EARNEST PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE. (Vers. 4, 5.) "Show me thy ways;" "Teach me thy paths;" "Lead me in thy truth." (1) Help me to understand thy providence or government, for I am often perplexed by it. (2) Teach me the paths in which thou wouldst have me walk. (3) Let me live in the experience of thy faithfulness. (1) Enlighten my thoughts, and give me the power to interpret thy ways of acting. (2) Control my conduct, move me to duty, and give me an obedient heart. (3) Help me to trust in the truth of thy Word and thy ways. For thou art saving me, and I am waiting on thee to this end. III. A CRY FOR GOD'S UNCHANGEABLE MERCY. (Vers. 6, 7.) God's mercy is called "tender mercy" and "loving-kindness," to indicate its qualities and its source. And it is everlasting and unchangeable, because God cannot be unlike himself; he cannot change his nature nor his conduct. The cry here is for mercy upon the sins of his youth. 1. The sins of youth are the sins of impulse, of inconsideration. Not deliberate sins, but better remembered than sins of later life. 2. The sins of inexperience and ignorance. We know not what we do - like Christ's murderers - when we transgress. The plea is, "According to thy loving-kindness," etc. For the sake of thy goodness, because thou art love, because thou art good, do these favours for me. This is the everlasting plea with God that sinners must use; not that God can be made propitious towards us, but that he is propitious, has been, and will always remain so, "not willing that any should perish." - S. Parallel Verses KJV: {A Psalm of David.} Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. |
    |