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.

Pastor Jeff O’ Neil

Recommended Tunes: Evan, St Paul

Psalm 25 – Second Version (common metre)

¹To thee I lift my soul, O LORD:
²My God, I trust in thee:
Let me not be asham’d; let not
My foes triumph o’er me.

³Yea, let thou none ashamed be
That do on thee attend:
Ashamed let them be, O Lord,
Who without cause offend.

⁴Thy ways, LORD, show; teach me thy paths:
⁵Lead me in truth, teach me:
For of my safety thou art God;
All day I wait on thee.

⁶Thy mercies, that most tender are,
Do thou, O LORD, remember,
And loving-kindnesses; for they
Have been of old for ever.

⁷Let not the errors of my youth,
Nor sins, remember’d be:
In mercy, for thy goodness’ sake,
O LORD, remember me.

⁸The LORD is good and gracious,
He upright is also:
He therefore sinners will instruct
In ways that they should go.

⁹The meek and lowly he will guide
In judgment just alway:
To meek and poor afflicted ones
He’ll clearly teach his way.

¹⁰The whole paths of the LORD our God
Are truth and mercy sure,
To such as keep his covenant,
And testimonies pure.

¹¹Now, for thine own name’s sake, O LORD,
I humbly thee entreat
To pardon mine iniquity;
For it is very great.

¹²What man fears GOD? him shall he teach
The way that he shall choose.
¹³His soul shall dwell at ease; his seed
The earth, as heirs, shall use.

¹⁴The secret of the LORD is with
Such as do fear his name;
And he his holy covenant
Will manifest to them.

¹⁵Towards the LORD my waiting eyes
Continually are set;
For he it is that shall bring forth
My feet out of the net.

¹⁶O turn thee unto me, O God,
Have mercy me upon;
Because I solitary am,
And in affliction.

¹⁷Enlarg’d the griefs are of mine heart;
Me from distress relieve.
¹⁸See mine affliction and my pain,
And all my sins forgive.

¹⁹Consider thou mine enemies,
Because they many are;
And it a cruel hatred is
Which they against me bear.

²⁰O do thou keep my soul; O God,
Do thou deliver me:
Let me not be asham’d; for I
Do put my trust in thee.

²¹O let integrity and truth
Keep me, who thee attend.
²²Redemption, Lord, to Israel
From all his troubles send.