Psalms 25

Psalms 25THEME: Plea for mercy and deliveranceThis psalm brings us to a new section. It begins a new series of fifteen psalms25 through 39which primarily record David’s personal experience, but look also to the future when the godly remnant of Israel is in trouble. For the comfort of believers today they contain the balm of Gilead. The preceding psalms can be described as dramatic and, in my judgment, sensational. But the following fifteen psalms are more personal, quiet, and intimate. They have a wonderful message and impact for our lives today.

They are applicable to the past, the present, and the future. Some of these psalms may not be so familiar, but they have much to say to us. We will only be hitting the high points, but there are many things to be learned. Often when I could not sleep, or when I was away from home and in a strange place, probably feeling a little lonely, I found myself turning to the Book of Psalms, and particularly to this section, because it came out of the experience of a man who was going through a time of trouble. It has a prophetic element, and looks into the future to a time of trouble for the faithful remnant of Israel, but it provides comfort to saints of all ages.

Psalms 25:1

This is a prayer that reveals the dependence that David had upon God. One day Israel will also experience this. The time will come when that remnant of Israel will find themselves in a position where there is no one upon whom they can depend but God. And it is good for us to come to that place also. When David says, “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul,” he is getting right down to business. This is not just his voice talking, it is his soul speaking. He continues, “O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.” Have you ever been in a place where everything seemed to be failure rather than success? You did not want to go down in crushing defeat, either in your personal life, or your business life, or your home or church life. “Let not mine enemies triumph over me.” What a prayer! Is this how you pray?

Psalms 25:3

Now listen to his pleading.

Psalms 25:4

There are two ways a man can go. He can go God’s way or his own way. God gives us a choice. We can walk in the path of our choosing. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Pro_14:12). What a glorious thing it is to be able to call out to God and ask Him to show us the way we should go.

Psalms 25:5

The psalmist is calling on God to show him the way, to teach him the way. This leads me to say that this is what is known as an acrostic psalm. That is, it is built upon the Hebrew alphabet. Each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Unfortunately, in English we miss it.

Psalms 25:6

The psalmist speaks not only of the kindness of God but also of His loving kindnesses. It is difficult for me to distinguish between the two, but I think what a little girl once said in Sunday school is a good definition. She said, “When you ask your Mother for a piece of bread with butter on it, and she gives it to you, that is kindness. But when she puts jam on it without you asking her, that is loving kindness.” I don’t know of a better way to describe the difference. David could say this during a time of trouble, as will the godly remnant of Israel in their time of trouble. And this speaks to our hearts today.

What was good for the saints of the past and will be good for the saints of the future is also good for us. I do not see how anyone could read the Psalms, or study the Epistle to the Romans, without seeing that God has a plan and purpose for the nation of Israel in the future. He is not yet through with His people.

Psalms 25:7

David asked God not only to remember his tender mercies and loving kindnesses, but now he asks him to forget something. He says, “Remember not the sins of my youth"forget them. Then he prays to God for goodness and mercy. God is rich in both of these. He has enough for you today, and there will be some left over for me. I don’t know about you, but I am going to need a whole lot of mercy; and I would like to have a lot of goodness, too. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psa_23:6).

Psalms 25:8

EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE IN GODIn the second section of this psalm David expresses his confidence and trust. God’s goodness, his love, and His righteousness are revealed in His provision for salvation for you and me.

Psalms 25:11

God forgives us for Christ’s sake, never for our sake. You and I do not merit forgiveness. We know that God forgave David; and, if we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, He will forgive us, too. An old blasphemer came to me one time with a sneer on his face, and asked “Why did God choose a man like David, who was such a big sinner?” I said to him, “You and I ought to take a great comfort in that. If God would save David, there just might be a chance that He would save you and me.” Concerning His people in the future, God says of Israel in Jer_31:34, “…I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Psalms 25:14

There are so many people today who are just question marks as far as their Christian lives are concerned. They don’t understand this or that verse of Scripture, and they don’t understand why God does certain things. Their lack of understanding is almost a dead giveaway. They are constantly in a questioning state. But “the secret of the LORD is with them that fear him.” When we walk with the Lord, many times we do not need to ask a question; we just put our hand in His and walk along. My daughter and I often used to go for walks.

She was a regular question-box. She had to ask questions about everything along the way. Finally she would grow tired, I would pick her up, and she would put her arms around my neck. Question time was over. She just accepted everything from then on. I think many of us should forget about some of the questions we have and simply put our hand in His and walk with Him.

Psalms 25:15

TROUBLE AND DELIVERANCEAs we come to the final section of this psalm, we are faced once again with that time of trouble that is coming for Israel in the future. What a prayer this will be for the faithful remnant of Israel during the time of trouble that is coming. Also it is a good prayer for you and me when we experience times of trouble.

Psalms 25:18

When we are in trouble we are more apt to confess our sins!

Psalms 25:19

Now hear the conclusion:

Psalms 25:22

This glorious prayer is, you see, primarily for the nation Israel and for the day of trouble that is coming upon the earth. All of us who are God’s children have trouble during our lifetimes. This is a prayer for us. O God, deliver us out of all our troubles. Years ago, down south, a black deacon got up and gave a testimony about a verse of Scripture that was meaningful to him. He said the verse was, “It came to pass.” Everyone looked puzzled, so the preacher said to him, “How is it that that particular verse means so much to you?” “Well,” the deacon said, “when I am in trouble, I always get my Bible and read, ‘It came to pass,’ and I thank God that my troubles came to pass, and they did not come to stay.” That may not be the exact interpretation of those words, but it expresses the truth of Scripture, and that is exactly what Psalms 25 is saying. “Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.” I am sure that you can see that the primary interpretation is for the nation Israel, but we certainly can also pray this prayer for ourselves.