Of David.
As a footnote in the NIV attests, this song is an acrostic; each verse (with one exception) begins with a different Hebrew letter, alphabetical order, aleph for the first verse, beth for the second, etc. This is a poetic device, a poetical form designed to aid memorization and possibly to force a certain creativity on the artist. Acrostic poetry shows up in a variety of passages of the Hebrew scriptures, including the book of Lamentations and a number of the psalms.
Since there are 22 Hebrew letters, there will be 22 verses.
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
The psalm opens with statement of allegiance, of commitment, dependent on a covenant with God. It will, of course, continue with a petition, a request for help in trouble.
Psalm 25: 4-5, Guide me in your truth
Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
David's request here is a simple one, for wisdom and understanding, so that he asks and thinks correctly. Some of David's psalms are in desperation and begin immediately with a plea for help. Here, presumably, David's request is a less stressed and more thoughtful. David repeats here, "My hope is in You!"
Psalm 25: 6-7, Your mercy and love
Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.
Forgiveness is part of the covenant David has with God. Note the admission of youthful sins and rebellion.
Psalm 25: 8-11, Forgive me, for Your name
Psalm 25: 8-11, Forgive me, for Your name
Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
David emphasizes God desire for instruction and relationship. David then shifts to instruction of his fellow humankind:
Psalm 25: 12-14, Fear YHWH and your descendants prosper
Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD?
He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
He will spend his days in prosperity,
and his descendants will inherit the land.
The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
Now David's song begins to take on an air of suffering. He is "lonely and afflicted". In the verses which follow we hear sudden cry about real trouble.
Psalm 25: 15-20, Release from the snare
My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
The nineteenth verse ("See how may enemies...") does not begin with the nineteenth Hebrew letter, qof, but repeats the eighteenth letter, resh. Presumably the original opening word has been lost. Both commentators Alder and Kidner suggest that a natural word to open verse 19 would be qeshov, meaning "hearken", as in "Hearken-see how my enemies..."
Verse 21, below, is a "bookend" verse, return to an opening theme:
Psalm 25: 21, My hope is (still) in You
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.
Then, as in many of the psalms, the song ends with a plea for help, not just David, but for the entire nation. (Of course, the king's success and that of the nation are closely connected.)
Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!
Yes, may God protect the people Israel.
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