This Psalm seems to have several themes running through it: trust, guidance, appealing for God to teach and lead, etc. So it can lead one to think, “What is the essence of this psalm?”
David mentions his enemies in verses 1 and 19, as well as the distress of his soul in verses 16-18.
In the words of one commentator:
“Psalm 25 is the prayer of the person who has chosen to walk the road of righteousness. But it is lined with enemies who would like nothing better than to put the walker to shame, and the traveler is plagued with internal doubts as he calls to mind previous wanderings from the path of former sins. The essence of the road of righteousness is this: it is a difficult road too difficult to walk without the companionship and friendship of God.”
So David asks God to instruct him in the way and lead him in the way and appeals that his enemies not triumph over him. In verses 20-21, he mentions integrity and uprightness preserving him. Though the world despises these virtues, they are the means of victory. David refuses to let the enemy dictate the terms of the battle.
David opens this psalm lifting up his soul. Trust shines through this prayer as evident in verse 1 but also revealed through the word wait (3, 5, 21). To wait is to accept God’s time and therefore his wisdom. This trust is eager, waiting in hope rather than indignation. This hope is unfulfilled at the close, but the waiting continues.
Isaiah 64:4 - From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.
We see several aspects about God that David highlights in this Psalm -
· He is faithful – v3
· He is characterized by truth because his ways are truth – v4,5
· He is our Savior – v5
· He is merciful and exhibits steadfast love – v 6
· He is good and upright – v 8
· His paths are steadfast love and faithfulness – v 10
· He is able to deliver his people – v 15, 20
David expresses his confident trust in God while asking God to teach him his ways so that integrity and uprightness preserve him in the face of opposition. He continues to wait on the Lord with hope and expectation.
Chiastic Structure*
a introductory cry for help (1-3)
· “let me not be put to shame”
· “none who wait for you shall be put to shame”
· “let not my enemies exult over me”
b Yahweh – teach me your ways! (4-5)
· “Make me know your ways”
· “Lead me in your truth and teach me.”
c plea for forgiveness (6-7)
· “Remember not the sins of my youth”
· “for the sake of your goodness”
d CENTER: Yahweh’s good and gracious character (8-10)
c1plea for forgiveness (11)
· “pardon my guilt”
· “for your name’s sake”
b1Yahweh will teach his followers the ways (12-14)
· “Him will he instruct in the way”
a1concluding cry for help (15-22)
· “Let me not be put to shame”
· “I wait for you”
· “Consider how many are my foes”
*taken from The Literary Structure of the Old Testament
