Psalm 25:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

NIV: Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

NASB: The Lord is good and upright; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

CSB: The Lord is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way.

NLT: The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

KJV: Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

NKJV: Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.

David acknowledges that the Lord is good and morally correct. For those who trust in Him, He never does anything eternally hurtful, but always what is in our best interest. His words and deeds are always right, therefore we can trust God at all times and in every situation. He is so good and upright that He guides sinners to salvation and a life of righteousness.

Isaiah depicts all human beings as sheep wandering away from God (Isaiah 53:6). But in love God provided the way back to Him through Jesus' redemptive work on the cross. Isaiah 53:6 also says, "the LORD has laid on him [Jesus, the Lamb of God] the iniquity of us all." Although the Lord delights to guide sinners to salvation, many are unwilling to receive His instruction. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and lamented, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Matthew 23:37).

Psalm 25:8–14 was written by David about the character of God. He expresses the fact that it is wise to trust in God. David trusted God when life seemed tenuous. His foes made treacherous plans to disgrace him, but David trusted God to deliver him, forgive him, and guide him through life. Ephesians 2:8–10 is a companion passage. It teaches that God has a plan for all whom he saves.

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 5/3/2024 8:56:11 PM