Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Let me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long.
Psalm 25:4-5
Psalm 25 is a heartfelt prayer of dependence on God’s guidance, forgiveness, and protection. David pours out his soul, expressing trust in God while seeking to be delivered from enemies, wisdom for life, and mercy for past sin. This is an acrostic poem, meaning that (for the most part) each verse beginning with a Hebrew letter A-Z (actually aleph א to tav ת), and emphasizes themes like trust, humility, and God’s covenant faithfulness.
David opens the psalm by lifting his soul to the Lord and declaring His trust in Him (vv. 1-2). This is active trust, not passive – a confident reliance on God’s character and promises. He boldly asks that he not be put to shame, knowing that those who wait on the Lord will not be disappointed in that regard (v. 3).
The heart of Psalm 25 is David’s plea for guidance and instruction. He desires to know God’s ways, to walk in His truth, and to live in obedience to Him (vv. 4-5). This humble plea reflects an awareness of his (and our) limitations and the need for God’s wisdom. David’s cry also reveals his teachable spirit, acknowledging that true wisdom comes only from the Lord.
David transitions to seeking forgiveness for his sins, particularly the sins of his youth (vv. 6-7). People often remark that it seems odd that David would be known as a man after God’s own heart when he very clearly is a sinner; vv. 6-7 give a good indication for what set him apart, namely repenting of his sin and seeking God’s mercy and steadfast love. David consistently holds to the consistency of God’s character and His steadfast love. It is also important to note that David acknowledges that God’s forgiveness is given and not earned – that it flows from God’s goodness and covenant faithfulness (v. 11).
In vv. 8-14, David highlights God’s character as good, upright, and faithful. He notes that God teaches sinners, leads the humble, and reveals His covenant to those who fear Him. This reverent fear fosters intimacy with God, described in v. 14 as “the friendship of the LORD”.
Psalm 25 concludes with David praying for deliverance from his troubles, enemies, and sins. He asks God to guard his soul and to preserve him through integrity and uprightness as he waits on the Lord (vv. 15-21). Finally, David expands his prayer to include all of Israel, asking God to redeem His people from their troubles (v. 22).
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 25
Psalm 25 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. David’s plea for forgiveness points us to the cross, where Jesus bore the penalty for sin and secured mercy for sinners. Only Jesus lived with perfect trust, humility, and obedience to God’s will, walking the path of righteousness without flaw or error.
As the God of our salvation, Jesus delivers us from sin and leads us in paths of righteousness. Like David, we can lift our souls to Him, confident that He will guide us, forgive us, and guard our lives for His glory.
Reflection
Psalm 25 calls us to trust God fully, seek His guidance, and rest in His mercy. As you do so, reflect on the following questions.
Are you daily asking God to teach you His ways and lead you in His truth?
Do you trust in God’s forgiveness, even for the sins of your youth?
How does the promise of God’s friendship encourage you to walk in humility and obedience?
Lift your soul to the Lord today. Confess your need for His guidance, forgiveness, and protection. Wait on Him, knowing that He is faithful to answer and to redeem. Through Christ, you can walk in His paths with confidence and hope.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
Won’t you take the challenge?
Just Keith Harris 