NOTES for Psa 25

Hope in God is not fruitless when it is joined with a desire to know His will and follow it. Trust does not rule out knowledge; on the contrary, faith and knowledge are interconnected. The human soul reaches toward the Lord, and He reveals Himself to those who trust His wisdom.

Considering oneself worthy to stand before God does not mean declaring oneself sinless. The psalmist makes no claim to infallibility; he does not conceal that he committed not only the "sins of youth," but transgressions as well. Nevertheless, he hopes in the Lord's mercy, realizing that no matter how far a person may fall, the Lord's mercy is greater than every transgression.

An important thought resounds in the psalm: the Lord not only sends retribution for sins, but also instructs sinners and helps them correct their ways. Here lies one of the sources of our hope for deliverance from the sins that seek to enslave us—the very chief and numerous enemies from whom the Lord is able to protect and deliver us.