Psalm 25:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

NIV: Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

NASB: Guard my soul and save me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.

CSB: Guard me and rescue me; do not let me be disgraced, for I take refuge in you.

NLT: Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.

KJV: O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

NKJV: Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.

In this verse David asks the Lord to keep his soul safe and deliver him from the pressing danger. His prayer is similar to what the Lord taught His disciples—and us—to pray: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13). David requests freedom from disgrace. He knew his enemies wanted to defeat him and thereby disgrace him in the eyes of the people of Israel. Nevertheless, David relied on the Lord to be his safe retreat.

Jesus assured His disciples that the evil world system would persecute them but He would protect them. He said: "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Satan wants to disgrace believers, but if we rely on the Lord for protection, Satan cannot win. James tells us to humble ourselves, knowing that God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). He urges us to place ourselves in God's hands to obtain victory over our fiercest enemy, the Devil. James 4:7 tells us: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Psalm 25:15–22 records more of David's prayer. He is facing multiple dangers, but he trusts the Lord to deliver him. In this regard, his plea resembles that of his prayer for deliverance in Psalm 22. The concluding section of Psalm 25 naturally follows David's description of the Lord's steadfast love and mercy. The Lord cares for those who obey Him, so He will not disappoint David in David's time of great need.

This prayer of David uses the Hebrew alphabet as a pattern. This is an acrostic, where verses each begin with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The final verse, however, repeats the letter used in verse 16. David declares his trust in God and the value of the Lord's wisdom. Mixed into these praises of God's truth are multiple requests that David be forgiven of his sins. The psalm ends with David asking for rescue from his enemies, and for a similar redemption for the nation of Israel.

Psalm 25 finds David facing difficulty and seeking the Lord's guidance. Proverbs 3:5–6 offers a similar emphasis on divine guidance for those who seek the Lord's will. Deuteronomy 32 provides parallel teaching, as do Psalm 37:1–7 and Psalm 40.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 4/28/2024 7:29:58 PM