Psalm 25

Notes

Ver. 2. Let not mine enemies triumph over me. He that would discover the speaker in this psalm requires, as in other cases, to search the Scriptures, and compare spiritual with spiritual. Accordingly let him prayerfully and candidly consult Ps. 40. 11, and compare the same with Ps. 25. 7-11, and it must be confessed they are alike. Then let him turn to He. 10. 5, and compare the same with Ps. 40. 6-8, and he will find that he who confesses his iniquities is no other than Christ; no other than he who, though he 'knew no sin,' yet 'bore all our sins in his own body;' yea, upon whom 'the Lord laid the iniquities of us all.' C.

Ver. 6. Rather 'for they are eternal.' The psalmist's knowledge of God's nature and attributes, and the experience of his wondrous mercy, prompt him to this grateful acknowledgment. P.

Ver. 14. Secret—'the mystery hid from ages and generations, but now made manifest to the saints; Christ in (them) the hope of glory,' Col. 1. 26, 27. Covenant—that new covenant promised, He. 8. 6-13; 10. 16, 17, and sealed by the mediation of Christ, He. 9. 15-17. C.

Ver. 21. Integrity and uprightness. No sinner could compose, adopt, or utter this prayer; for the fact of being a sinner implies the want of both these qualities. The sinner rests his plea upon the mercy of God, and not upon his own merits; but Christ addresses the Father as one who magnified the law and made it honourable. C.

Reflections.—An interest in God and his love is the surest protection from shame and danger; and the more our hearts and desires are weaned from earthly vanities, and set upon God and things above, we are the more sure that our hopes shall not be disappointed. He that believeth shall not be ashamed. God never fails them that seek him. But the short-lived triumphs of obstinate transgressors shall issue in everlasting misery and confusion. When we pray for ourselves we must never forget our brethren. Being by nature blind and impotent, our whole direction in, and strength for, duty must come from God. And none who wait on him as the God of their salvation shall ever wait in vain. Hopes fixed on his everlasting love can never be disappointed: and what others have found an infallible support we may boldly depend upon. Sins of youth, though pardoned by God, ought to be remembered by us for our humiliation. And our only hope of God's favour must be founded on a living faith in Jesus' blood. All true knowledge of God and his ways, and wisdom to walk therein, spring from his own mercy and faithfulness. Sense of sin must drive us to implore the forgiveness and destruction of it: but no sin, however great, ought to render us desperate. God, by his infinite power and grace, can pardon the greatest as well as the least. And the more sin God forgives to us, the more we are obliged to love, fear, and serve him: and the more we serve him, the greater shall be our happiness in life and intimacy with him. Whatever God does, however afflicting, shall work together for our good. Though God and men should concur to entangle us in nets of trouble, and Satan distress our minds with his accusations, the fruit of all is not to destroy us but to purge away our sin. But our kindliest resignation to afflictions must be attended with prayer for the removal of them. Though we must love our enemies, we must pray against their wickedness. And while we earnestly study the utmost uprightness in our practice, the church in general, and every member thereof, ought to share in our fervent requests.