O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Psalm 25:2
This appeal for help is also an expression of trust. David asks God to show him the Lord’s ways (4-7), confident that one who follows the Lord will find release (8-15). This prayer is offered despite David’s present loneliness and anguish (16-22).
A Prayer for Guidance, Pardon and Protection
25:1, 2 Let me not be ashamed is the opening and closing appeal of Ps. 25 (v.20). Shame is the intended end of the enemies of God (35:26), but not of the faithful. Who waits: Waiting on the Lord is the equivalent of hoping in Him.
O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me.
25:8 Good and upright is the Lord. God is both good and upright. The Lord extends mercy to repentant believers and at the same time promises not to allow the guilty to go unpunished. God will bring justice to this fallen world.
8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
25:22 Redeem Israel: Here David petitions to the Lord to be compassionate with the nation Israel just as He has been with David. The Lord was not only the personal Savior of David, but also the Savior of all the Israelites.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
⇒ A prayer of a humble king. He is asking God to make his path separate from that of the wicked which is destined for shame and destruction. He is not claiming that he is guiltless. He is praying that God will not “remember” his past transgressions and point out the right path to follow from now on. Change of course is possible only for those who are meek.
25 1 A Psalm of David. To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. 3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. 4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. 9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. 11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. 12 Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. 13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses! 18 Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins. 19 Consider my enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred. 20 Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all their troubles!