Psalm 25: Teach Me Thy Paths

Core Theme: For when you’re at a crossroads, unsure which way to turn and in need of wisdom from God

(Related Theme: Guilt, Sin & Repentance. See “Walking through it” below.)

Background

David wrote Psalm 25, and the Bible does not name the occasion. It is a prayer of a man who is waiting on the LORD, surrounded by trouble, aware of his own failures, and in need of direction. It is also an acrostic in the original Hebrew, with each verse beginning with the next letter of the alphabet, which gives the psalm a careful, prayerful shape from beginning to end.

Psalm 25 (KJV)

1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.

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

9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

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

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

The heart of it

Psalm 25 is one of the most complete prayers for guidance in the Bible. David does not ask for a quick answer. He asks to be shown, taught, and led, and he is willing to wait for it. The whole psalm is the prayer of a learner.

Notice also how honest he is. He does not pretend to be better than he is. He brings his past, his failures, and his needs to the LORD, because he knows that guidance comes to the humble. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). That is good news for anyone who is afraid they are too far gone, or too flawed, to be led.

The psalm teaches us that the One who guides is also the One who forgives, and that the two cannot be separated. A heart that has been cleared of guilt is a heart ready to listen.

Walking through it

Verses 1–3: “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.”

David begins by giving himself to the LORD before he asks for anything. To lift up the soul is to surrender it, to hand over the whole person. Then he says what many of us fear at a crossroads: “let me not be ashamed.” No one wants to make a choice and end up regretting it. But verse 3 gives a promise: none that wait on the LORD will be ashamed. “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Romans 10:11).

Verses 4–5: “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.”

David asks to be shown and taught, the posture of a student. In verse 5 he adds, “Lead me in thy truth,” and then gives the reason he can ask: “for thou art the God of my salvation.” Here “salvation” carries the Old Testament sense of deliverance and rescue, the God who has saved David out of trouble again and again. “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2). It is the same God who, in Christ, saves us from our sins, and David is asking direction from the One who has always rescued him. He is also willing to wait: “on thee do I wait all the day.” For those who belong to Christ, the Spirit does the leading: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

Verses 6–7: “Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.”

David asks on the basis of God’s mercy, not his own record. Then he does something that takes honesty: “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions.” Many people hesitate to seek God’s direction because they are carrying guilt from the past. David brings it with him. And God does not turn him away. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23).

Verses 8–10: “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.”

This is one of the most encouraging verses in the psalm. The LORD teaches sinners. He does not wait until we have everything right before He will lead us. And verse 9 tells us who is most likely to receive that guidance: the meek, those who are humble and teachable. Verse 10 adds that all His paths are “mercy and truth” to those who keep His covenant. The road He leads us on is never cruel.

Verses 11–14: “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.”

David asks for pardon, not because he is worthy, but for the LORD’s name’s sake, and he does not play it down: “for it is great.” Guilt can cloud our ability to hear, and forgiveness clears it. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). From there the psalm turns to the one who fears the LORD, who will be taught “in the way that he shall choose.” The “secret of the LORD,” His close counsel, is with those who revere Him. Guidance is a mark of closeness.

Verses 15–22: “Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.”

The psalm closes with David’s eyes fixed on the LORD while he is hemmed in by trouble. He is desolate, afflicted, and surrounded by enemies, yet he keeps looking up. He asks again for forgiveness of all his sins (verse 18) and for integrity and uprightness to preserve him (verse 21). The last verse widens the prayer beyond himself: “Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.” David has learned to pray for God’s people, not only for his own way. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Carrying this forward

If the Lord has already led you through a crossroads, look back and see how patiently He taught you. He may have shown you the way one step at a time, and He may have forgiven things you thought would hold you back. Thank Him for the mercy that has been “ever of old.” It is easy to forget, and to start leaning on our own understanding again once the way is clear.

If you are at a crossroads right now, perhaps carrying some guilt of your own, bring all of it to Him. Lift up your soul, ask to be taught, and be willing to wait. If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you come as one who is forgiven and being led. Make David’s prayer your own: “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4–5).