The Bible — notes and cross-references in Psalms | Interpretation and commentary to chapter 25

25:0^a Of David

25:1¹ To

This psalm is one of the alphabetical, or acrostic, psalms. See note Psa. 9:1¹. Psalms 25—41 show the mixed expressions of the psalmist’s sentiments in his enjoyment of God in God’s house. The enjoyment of Christ, as portrayed in Psalms 2, 8, 16, and 22—24, led the psalmist to another state of enjoyment — the enjoyment of God in the house of God. Although God is universal and omnipresent, He has located Himself in His house so that men may contact Him and enjoy Him (Psa. 23:6; 27:4). In the Old Testament time God’s house, His dwelling place, was both in the heavens (1 Kings 8:30b, 1 Kings 8:39a, 1 Kings 8:43a) and in the temple on Mount Zion (Psa. 76:2b; Psa. 135:21; Isa. 8:18). God’s physical house in the Old Testament is a type of His spiritual house in the New Testament (1 Pet. 2:5). God’s house in the New Testament is, first, Christ as God’s tabernacle and God’s temple (John 1:14; 2:21; Col. 2:9); second, it is the church, the enlargement of Christ, as God’s enlarged temple (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6). Consummately, God’s house will be the New Jerusalem, a composition of God’s redeemed as the tabernacle (Rev. 21:2-3) for God to dwell in and enjoy His redeemed, and the redeeming God Himself as the temple (Rev. 21:22) for His redeemed to dwell in and enjoy Him — a mutual dwelling of both God and man for their mutual enjoyment. We enjoy God in His house by being in Christ and in the church in this age, and ultimately in the New Jerusalem in the next age and in eternity.

25:1^a lift

Psa. 86:4; 143:8

25:2^a trust

2 Cor. 1:9

25:2^b ashamed

Isa. 49:23; Rom. 9:33; 10:11; Phil. 1:20

25:4^a Make

Exo. 33:13; Psa. 27:11; 103:7

25:7¹ sins

In this verse and in vv. 11, 18 David asked God not to remember but to forgive his sins, his transgressions, and his great iniquity. Our confession of sins and God’s forgiveness of our sins are the threshold of the New Testament age (Matt. 3:1-2; Mark 1:4-5; Acts 10:43; Heb. 8:12; 1 John 1:9).

25:10¹ testimonies

Referring to the law with the Ten Commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances. See note Exo. 20:1¹ and note Luke 1:6⁴.

25:11^a name

Psa. 23:3; 1 John 2:12

25:13¹ prosperity

See note Psa. 1:3¹.

25:13^a land

Psa. 37:9

25:14^a intimate

Job 29:4; Prov. 3:32

25:14¹ counsel

Here David put the intimate counsel of God together with the covenant, the law, indicating the mixture in the expression of his sentiment. Such mixed expressions can be seen also in vv. 15-18a and v. 21.

25:17¹ Relieve

Others read, The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out.

25:20^a take

Psa. 2:12

25:21¹ integrity

See note Psa. 18:20¹.