\\INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 25\\

\*\\<<A Psalm of David>>\\.
This is the first of the psalms which is written
in an alphabetical order, or in which the first word
of every verse begins with the letters of the Hebrew
alphabet in order, though it is not strictly and
regularly observed; the reason of this manner of writing
is not very obvious; the {r} Jews confess their ignorance
of it; it may be to engage the attention to what is
said, or to assist the memory in laying it up, and
retaining it there. The occasion of the psalm seems
to be the troubles David was in on account of an
unnatural rebellion raised against him by some of
his subjects, at the head of which was his own son
Absalom; he speaks of himself as in a net, and in
great affliction, distress, and trouble, by reason of
his enemies, \\#Ps 25:15-18\\; and as being brought to
a sense of his former sins, for which he desires pardon,
\\#Ps 25:7,11\\.

\*Ver. 1. \\Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul\\.]
Either %in prayer%, as the Chaldee paraphrase adds {s};
and denotes sincere, affectionate, hearty prayer to God,
a drawing nigh to him with a true heart: for unless
the heart is lifted up, the lifting up of the eyes or hands
in prayer is of no avail; see \\#La 3:41\\; or by way of
offering to the Lord, as some Jewish writers {t} interpret
it; David not only presented his body in public worship,
but his soul also as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which was his reasonable service;
or else as a %depositum%, which he committed into the
hands of God, to be under his care and protection;
and then the sense is the same with \\#Ps 31:5\\ {u};
the phrase is sometimes used to express earnest and
vehement desire after any thing; \\see Gill on "Ps
24:4"\\; and may here intend the very great desire of
the  psalmist after communion with God; which is
elsewhere by him expressed by panting after him, and
by thirsting for him in a dry and thirsty land, \\#Ps
42:1 63:1\\; the desires of his soul were not
to vain things, the vanities and idols of the Gentiles,
but to God only, and to the remembrance of his name.

\*Ver. 2. \\O my God, I trust in thee\\, &c.] He claims
his interest in God, and expresses his faith and
confidence in him, in the midst of all his troubles; \\see
Gill on "Ps 7:1"\\;
\*\\let me not be ashamed\\;
meaning of his trust in God, by being disappointed
of the help, deliverance, and salvation from him,
which he trusted in him for; and the believer, as he
has no reason to be ashamed of God, the object of
his trust; so neither of the act of his hope or trust
in him; nor shall he; for hope makes not ashamed;
see \\#Ps 119:116 Ro 5:5\\;
\*\\let not mine enemies
triumph over me\\; either his temporal enemies, his
subjects that were risen up against him; or his
spiritual enemies, Satan, and the men of the world, who
rejoice and triumph when the saints are forsaken
by God; and they are ready to say, as David's enemies
did of him, there is no help or salvation for him in
God, \\#Ps 3:2\\; and when they fall into their hands,
or fall by them.

\*Ver. 3. \\Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed\\,
&c.] David not only prays for himself, but for other
saints, as it becomes the people of God to do; for
them they waited on the Lord in public worship, attended
his house and ordinances, and waited on him
for the discoveries of his love, the enjoyment of his
voracious presence, and were looking for his salvation,
for the Messiah; for those the psalmist prays, that
they might not be ashamed of their expectation and
hope, by the delay of those things, or the denial
them;
\*\\let them be ashamed which transgress without
cause\\; or %act treacherously without cause% {w}; as David's
subjects did, who were risen up in rebellion against
him, and acted the perfidious part, contrary to their
allegiance, and without any just reason, they not
being ruled with rigour, and oppressed; but were
guided and governed by him according to the laws of
God, in the integrity of his heart, and by the skilfulness
of his hands; he being a king that reigned in
righteousness, and a prince that decreed judgment:
and such are those who are now risen up against our
rightful sovereign King George {x}, a parcel of perfidious
treacherous wretches; some of them who were in the
last rebellion, and obtained his father's pardon; others
that have partook yearly of his royal bounty, for the
instruction of their children; and all have enjoyed the
blessings of his mild and gentle government; and therefore
are without cause his enemies: and for such we
should pray, as David did for his enemies, that they might
be ashamed; that they may fail in their attempts and
designs, and be brought to deserved punishment; see
\\#Ps 7:4\\; or %let transgressors be ashamed%, and be
empty {y}; in a state of emptiness and want; lose their
wealth, honour, and credit.

{r} Kimchi in loc.
{s} So Kimchi & Ben Melech.
{t} R. Moseh in Aben Ezra in loc.
{u} Midrash Tillim.
{w} \^Mydgwbh\^ %qui perfide agunt%, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator,
Cocceius, Michaelis; so Amama & Ainsworth.
{x} This was written December 2, 1745.
{y} \^Mqyr\^ %in statu vacuitatis ac egestatis%, Gussetius, p. 790.