Psalms 25:1-7 - Homilies By C. Short

Trust in God.

"Belongs probably to the time of the Exile. Its prevailing thought is that God is the Teacher of the afflicted and the Guide of the erring; and this is constantly repeated, either in the way of statement or of prayer." The first seven verses contain three things.

I. ASPIRING TRUST IN GOD . ( Psalms 25:1-3 .) Seeking, drawn towards, lifting himself up towards God, waiting upon him,—all signify the earnest, confident trust in God, which is the highest act of the soul towards the great Invisible Being. This is associated with obedience; for transgressors will be confounded; they have no ground for expecting salvation, and will be made ashamed.

II. EARNEST PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE . ( Psalms 25:4 , Psalms 25:5 .) "Show me thy ways;" "Teach me thy paths;" "Lead me in thy truth."

III. A CRY FOR GOD 'S UNCHANGEABLE MERCY . ( Psalms 25:6 , Psalms 25:7 .) God's mercy is called "tender mercy" and "loving-kindness," to indicate its qualities and its source. And it is everlasting and unchangeable, because God cannot be unlike himself; he cannot change his nature nor his conduct. The cry here is for mercy upon the sins of his youth.

1 . The sins of youth are the sins of impulse , of inconsideration. Not deliberate sins, but better remembered than sins of later life.

2 . The sins of inexperience and ignorance. We know not what we do—like Christ's murderers—when we transgress. The plea is, "According to thy loving-kindness," etc. For the sake of thy goodness, because thou art love, because thou art good, do these favours for me. This is the everlasting plea with God that sinners must use; not that God can be made propitious towards us, but that he is propitious, has been, and will always remain so , "not willing that any should perish."—S.