The Confidence of the Righteous in the Lord’s Mercy

David is confident in prayer, because his eye of faith looks to God. Though a king, yet even he expresses the need to be led, shown, and taught in the truth and ways of God. He realises that a godly fear and worshipful awe of God will bring him into the secret of the Lord. The word, ‘secret,’ means a ‘close counsel,’ or an ‘intimacy of fellowship.’ From such intimacy will be unveiled further insights of the mysteries of the kingdom, and the truths of the covenant. But it would also entail the divulging of the secrets of His providence, which can be imparted in a special way. As a consequence of this awareness, David ends by the confession of sin and with a determination to be upright. He vows to wait upon the Lord, not passively, but actively.

 

Psalm 25 - First Version

   1     To thee I lift my soul:
   2     O Lord, I trust in thee:
      My God, let me not be ashamed,
         nor foes triumph o'er me.

   3     Let none that wait on thee
         be put to shame at all;
      But those that without cause transgress,
         let shame upon them fall.

   4     Show me thy ways, O Lord;
         thy paths, O teach thou me:
   5  And do thou lead me in thy truth,
         therein my teacher be:

         For thou art God that dost
         to me salvation send,
      And I upon thee all the day
         expecting do attend.

   6     Thy tender mercies, Lord,
         I pray thee to remember,
      And loving-kindnesses; for they
         have been of old for ever.

   7     My sins and faults of youth
         do thou, O Lord, forget:
      After thy mercy think on me,
         and for thy goodness great.

   8     God good and upright is:
         the way he'll sinners show.
   9  The meek in judgment he will guide,
         and make his path to know.

  10     The whole paths of the Lord
         are truth and mercy sure,
      To those that do his cov'nant keep,
         and testimonies pure.

  11     Now, for thine own name's sake,
         O Lord, I thee entreat
      To pardon mine iniquity;
         for it is very great.

  12     What man is he that fears
         the Lord, and doth him serve?
      Him shall he teach the way that he
         shall choose, and still observe.

  13     His soul shall dwell at ease;
         and his posterity
      Shall flourish still, and of the earth
         inheritors shall be.

  14     With those that fear him is
         the secret of the Lord;
      The knowledge of his covenant
         he will to them afford.

  15     Mine eyes upon the Lord
         continually are set:
      For he it is that shall bring forth
         my feet out of the net.

16     Turn unto me thy face,
       and to me mercy show;
    Because that I am desolate,
       and am brought very low.

  17     My heart's griefs are increased:
         me from distress relieve.
  18  See mine affliction and my pain,
         and all my sins forgive.

  19     Consider thou my foes,
         because they many are;
      And it a cruel hatred is
         which they against me bear.

  20     O do thou keep my soul,
         do thou deliver me:
      And let me never be ashamed,
         because I trust in thee.

  21     Let uprightness and truth
         keep me, who thee attend.
  22  Redemption, Lord, to Israel
         from all his troubles send.


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