Psalms
Chapter 25
In You, Lord, I Trust, Let Me Not Be Disappointed
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
B 2In you, my God I trust; let me not be put to shame, let not my enemies exult over me.
Those who hope in you will never be humbled; those who turn away from you will suffer disgrace!
D4Teach me your ways, O Lord; make known to me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and instruct me, for you are my God, my savior; WI hope in you all day long.
Z6Remember your compassion, O Lord, your unfailing love from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth, but in your love remember me.
Good and upright, the Lord teaches sinners his way.
He teaches the humble of heart and guides them in what is right.
The ways of the Lord are love and faithfulness for those who keep his Covenant and precepts.
L11For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.
To those who fear the Lord, he will teach the way to choose.
They will live in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land.
The Lord gives advice to those who revere him and makes his Covenant known to them.
My eyes are always on the Lord, for he will free my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and have compassion, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Free my heart of bitterness; relieve me of this distress.
See my pain and suffering, and forgive all my sins.
See how my enemies have increased and how violently they hate me.
Deliver me from them; let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted you.
Let integrity and uprightness be my protection, for all my hope, O Lord, is in you.
Redeem, O God, redeem Israel from all its troubles!
Commentaries
25
This honest admission of guilt is more encouraging for us. At last, we sympathize with the psalmist. God is the teacher. The Loving Guide goes ahead of us, and we observe him. Sometimes, he turns around to see if we are following. This psalm is a model ‘act of contrition.’ It does not try to evoke emotional sorrow. It states the case, admits the guilt, and asks for mercy. Can anyone before God do more?
Scripture does not recognize despair. We may be broken by sorrow, anxiety, and the burden of sin, but there is always a way out. Even our worst paths can ultimately lead to a love stronger than all the powers of this world.
In praying this psalm, the psalmist has asked God for many favors. Our prayers, like his, have been answered multiple times by Jesus, who in John 14:6 says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” And then again, in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all of you who…carry heavy burdens…for my yoke is good and my burden is light.” ALL answers have been provided to us by Jesus in the Gospels. If only we believe!