PSALM XXV. This beautiful Psalm, composed in some time of great distress, abounds with prayer for deliverance, and for grace to walk uprightly; and with meditations on the gracious dealings of God with His servants. 1 Unto Thee, O Lord, will I are mercy and truth: unto such lift up my soul; my God, I as keep His covenant and His have put my trust in Thee: O testimonies. let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me. 2 For all they that hope in Thee, shall not be ashamed: but such as transgress without shall be put to con a cause, fusion. 3 Shew me Thy ways, O Lord and teach me Thy paths. 4 Lead me forth in Thy truth, and learn me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; in Thee hath been my hope all the day long. 10 For Thy Name's sake, O Lord: be merciful unto my sin, for it is great. 11 What man is he that feareth the Lord: him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose. 12 His soul shall dwell at ease: and his seed shall inherit the land. 13 The secret of the Lord is among them that fear Him: and He will shew them His covenant. 14 Mine eyes are ever look5 Call to remembrance, Oing unto the Lord: for He Lord, Thy tender mercies: and shall pluck my feet out of the Thy loving-kindnesses, which net. have been ever of old. 6 O remember not the sins and offences of my youth: but according to Thy mercy think Thou upon me, O Lord, for Thy goodness. 7 Gracious and righteous is the Lord: therefore will He teach sinners in the way. 15 Turn Thee unto me, and have mercy upon me: for I am desolate, and in misery. 16 The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring Thou me out of my troubles. 17 Look upon my adversity, and misery: and forgive me all my sin. 8 Them that are meek shall 18 Consider mine enemies, He guide in judgement: and how many they are: and they such as are gentle, them shall bear a tyrannous hate against He learn His way. 9 All the paths of the Lord me. 19 O keep my soul, and de liver me let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in Thee. 20 Let perfectness and right eous dealing wait upon me : for my hope hath been in Thee. 21 Deliver Israel, O God: out of all his troubles. Ver. 2. For all they, &c.] For none of them that hope in Thee shall be ashamed.—transgress without a cause,] Such as hate and persecute me, though I have given them no offence, no just reason for it. Ver. 5, 6.] Remember, O Lord, Thy past mercies, and not my past sins. David's whole trust was in God's undeserved mercy: he knew that the Lord had been merciful of old, and he now shews his faith in the unchangeableness of Jehovah. James i. 17. We have here an example of prayer, a deep sense of sin, and a trust in the Lord's goodness and grace. Ver. 8. in judgement,] In choosing what is right. Ver. 13. The secret of the Lord,] The knowledge of His ways, the comfort of His grace; called a secret, because they cannot be known or understood, unless the Lord reveal them: and He will not shew His favour or His ways to the wicked; to them the "covenant" of God, His promises and word, are a secret not at all understood. Ver. 14. out of the net,] Out of the snare which my enemies have laid for me. It is a figure from the fowler, Prov. i. 17. in very common use. Ver. 15. desolate,] Without comfort or friend. Ver. 18. a tyrannous hate,] A cruel hatred. Ver. 21. Deliver Israel,] David prays for his Church and people, as well as for himself; and so should we. Eph. vi. 18, 19. 1 Tim. ii. 1. &c. David "lifted up his soul:" and in vain will our voices be lifted up in prayer, unless our souls be lifted up to God: and when we think of the sins and offences of our younger years, and of all our lives long, how can we help pouring forth our hearts to God for His mercy? It is well for us that He may be found upon His mercy-seat, from which He has heard the prayers of His people, and blessed them, in all past ages. O let us pray to be forgiven, and thus to be led and taught by Him. We know nothing without the teaching of His Spirit and His word; and He teaches none but those who humbly and heartily desire to be taught and led. The children of this world may boast of their learning and knowledge; they may read the Bible, and think themselves wise: but they know nothing as they ought to know; they have no true and saving knowledge; their hearts have learned nothing, their lives have gained nothing; God is, in great measure, a stranger to them; and so He will be, till they seek and serve Him with a contrite heart. Worldly wisdom they may have: but they cannot be wise unto salvation: "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." Job xxviii. 28. 66 QUESTIONS. What did David unto the Lord?-How did His enemies transgress without a cause ?"-What does He pray God to remember?-And what not to remember?-Whom will the Lord teach-The secret of the Lord?-Out of the net?Desolate --Enlarged?--Tyrannous hate?--For whom did David pray, besides himself?-What does this teach us?— Where else are we taught the same? PSALM XXVI. David appeals to God for his innocence of the charges laid against him by his enemies; and resolves to continue in his uprightness. 1 Be Thou my judge, O Lord, for I have walked innocently my trust hath been also in the Lord, therefore shall I not fall. prove me try out my reins and my heart. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and 3 For Thy loving-kindness is ever before mine eyes and I will walk in Thy truth. 4 I have not dwelt with vain persons neither will I have fellowship with the deceitful. 5 I have hated the congregation of the wicked: and will not sit among the ungodly. 6 I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord: and so will I go to Thine altar; 7 That I may shew the voice of thanksgiving: and tell of all Thy wondrous works. the place where Thine honour dwelleth. 9 O shut not up my soul with the sinners: nor my life with the blood-thirsty; 10 In whose hands is wickedness: and their right hand is full of gifts. 11 But as for me, I will walk innocently: O deliver me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth right: 8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house: and I will praise the Lord in the congregations. Ver. 1. I have walked innocently,] I have done nothing against my enemy Saul. Ver. 2. my reins,] My secret thoughts. Psalm vii. 10. Ver. 3. thy loving-kindness,] This is my encouragement to do the thing that is right. Ver. 4. with vain persons,] With the heathen, or with those who plotted against Saul. David had been driven away from the people and the worship of God: and yet he did not, in his banishment, have fellowship, that is, live and mix with enemies, or with the wicked. Ver. 6. I will wash, &c.] When I wash my hands, as a sign of my innocence, I will be really innocent. It was a custom for a man to wash his hands as a sign that his character was clean and clear. Deut. xxi. 6, 7. Matt. xxvii. 24. The Jews washed their hands before prayer, as a token of their repentance; and thus David therefore, looking forward to his return from banishment, declares that he will then go to the altar and worship, not only with clean hands, but with a clear conscience. . 8. thine honour,] The place where Thy glory ifested, the tabernacle. .9. and shut not up, &c.] Let not my soul be ed or numbered with them. . 10. gifts,] With which they bribed men to do ef. . 12. my foot standeth right,] I am in the way teousness. hat walks uprightly will never fear any search or inquiry s conduct! Though his lot be cast among the wicked, d not fear, if he shuns their evil counsels, and keeps heir evil ways: whatever troubles or dangers surround e may safely leave his cause with God, and wait for the holy peace. And nothing but a good conscience can ve such confidence as this: God knows the heart, and righteous judge; rash and foolish, therefore, must that who would dare appeal to Him for that which is not true. ence, no outward action or appearance, can ever deceive nighty. Let us never attempt so hopeless and wicked a Especially in our worship, let the heart be earnest and I when the knees are bended, let the soul be humble; he hands are raised in prayer, let the affections mount he throne of grace; and let us not go into God's preth any unrepented sin. "Be not deceived: God is not ; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." 7. QUESTIONS. does David call God to be his judge?-My reins and t?—What encouragement had he?-With vain perFellowship?—I will wash my hands in innocency?onour?-Where did God's honour dwell?-Shut not oul with the sinners --My foot standeth right? |