Verse 10. "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth …" "Paths" signifies the tracks or ruts made by the wheels of wagons by often passing over the same ground. Mercy and truth are the paths in which God constantly walks in reference to the children of men: and so frequently does He show them mercy, and so frequently does He fulfil His truth, that His paths are easily discerned.
Adam Clark
Verse 11. "For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity …" When God forgives sin, He does it for His Name's sake, that is for His honour and glory. Among all divine works, there is none which more sets forth His glory than that of remission of sin. Sin, by the committing of it, brings God a great deal of dis-honour, and yet, by forgiving it, God brings to Himself a great deal of honour. The attributes of God's grace, mercy, goodness, clemency, shine forth in nothing so much as in the pardoning of sins.
Nathaniel Hardy
Verse 11. "For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity: for it is great." David pleads the greatness of his sin, and not the smallness of it, because the greater his iniquity was, the more need he had of pardon. When a beggar begs for bread, he will plead the greatness of his poverty and necessity. When a man in distress cries for pity, what more suitable plea can be urged than the extremity of his case? And God allows such a plea as this: for He is moved to mercy towards us by nothing in us, but the miserableness of our case. He doth not pity sinners because they are worthy, but because they need his pity.
Jonathan Edwards
Verse 12. "What man is he that feareth the Lord?" Present fear begets eternal security: fear God, Who is above all, and there is no need to fear man at all.
Augustine
Verse 14. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him …" He gives us the key that will let us into His very heart, and acquaint us with what His thoughts are – yea with what they were towards us before a stone was laid in the world's foundations. And this "key" is none other than His Holy Spirit, for he was at the Council-Table in heaven when all was transacted. This, His Spirit, He employed —
(1) To put forth and publish in the Scriptures the substance of those counsels of love which had passed between the Trinity of Persons for our salvation.
(2) That nothing might be wanting for our satisfaction, He hath appointed the same Holy Spirit to abide in His saints, that as Christ in heaven presents our desires to Him, so the Spirit my interpret His mind out of His word for us; and this word reveals the heart of God, as face reveals face in the glass.
William Gurnall
Verse 18. "Look upon mine affliction and my pain …". In sickness of body trust to Jesus … Let us not do like Asa (2nd Chron. 16:12) and trust only in the physician, or in the subordinate means. But let us remember that all physic is but dead means without Him. Therefore, with the means, run to Christ that He might work with them, and remember that all virtue and strength comes from Him to bless or curse all sorts of means.
Richard Sibbes
Verse 19. "Consider mine enemies, for they are many …" We may say of original sin, strengthened and heightened by customary transgression, its name is legion, for it is many. Hydra-like, it is a body with many heads; and when we cut off one head, there presently sprouts up another of like monstrous nature. From the womb of original sin, as from the Trojan horse, there does issue forth a whole army of unclean lusts to surround the soul in all its faculties.
Robert Mossom
Verse 20. "O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee."
THEME — "Soul Preservation."
DIVISION —
Hints to the Village Preacher
Verse 22. "Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles."
Amen.
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 25 concluded The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 62 – placed on line September 2006 Wicket Gate contact address – Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@wicketgate.co.uk If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |