Chapter Twenty-Five

David in this psalm is portrayed as living near the Tent, which he could freely visit according to his will (Ps 25:6); around him were enemies who were deceitful and treacherous (Ps 25:4), and malicious (Ps 25:5), thirsting for blood and evil deeds (Ps 25:9). Such a position of David could only be during the beginning of Absalom’s revolt before his flight from Jerusalem, but not during the persecutions from Saul, when he could not visit the Tent not only freely and openly, as is depicted in this psalm, but even in secret: he was constantly being watched and found himself in perpetual flight. David’s testimony in that psalm to his «own innocence» (Ps 25:1) before God means here not a confession of complete innocence before Him, but his non-participation, his blamelessness and the injustice of those accusations which were brought against him by Absalom and his supporters, as an unjust judge, a bloodthirsty man, and a bad administrator.

Judge and examine my case, O Lord, so that I might show the injustice of my sufferings (1–2). I trust in Your mercy, since I have never been a participant in the deeds of wicked people (3–5). As one innocent, I will walk to Your altar, that I might sing praise to You and speak of Your wonders (6–8). Do not destroy me along with bloodthirsty and corrupt men, for I am innocent and act in truth (9–12).

Psalm 25:1. Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence, and trusting in the Lord, I will not be moved. “Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in innocence”—render judgment both upon me and my enemies, so that before all people I might show my innocence in those crimes which they bring against me. “Trusting in the Lord, I will not be moved”—my faith in God as a righteous Judge is the basis of my confidence that I will not be destroyed by my enemies.

Psalm 25:2. Test me, O Lord, and prove me; burn through my innermost thoughts and my heart, “Burn through my innermost thoughts and my heart”—test and examine me not only in terms of my deeds, but of my thoughts and feelings.

Psalm 25:4. I have not sat with deceitful people, and with the treacherous I will not go; Psalm 25:5. I have hated the assembly of the malicious, and with the wicked I will not sit; “Evil, treacherous,” “malicious and wicked”—David calls his enemies by these names because of their manner of acting toward him, when they plotted against him and spread slander. “I will not sit with the wicked” (see Ps 1:4).

Psalm 25:6. I will wash my hands in innocence and go about Your altar, O Lord, The washing of hands served as an external sign of innocence (see Exod 30:17-21).

Psalm 25:8. O Lord! I have loved the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells. “I have loved the habitation of Your house.” David was marked by a strongly developed piety, so that attendance at worship and presence in the Tent was for him not merely the fulfillment of duty, but also a matter of personal affection.

Psalm 25:9. Do not destroy my soul with sinners and my life with bloodthirsty men, Psalm 25:10. in whose hands are evil deeds, and whose right hand is full of bribes. The enemies are called bloodthirsty and evildoers, for they were ready to resort to rebellion and bloody retaliation against David to bring about his downfall. “Their right hand is full of bribes”—an indication that David’s enemies acted not disinterestedly, but took bribes; that is, they were purchased or acted from mercenary calculations and ambition. There were many such among those close to David, including his former friend Ahithophel.

Psalm 25:12. My foot stands on a right path; in the assemblies I will bless the Lord. “My foot stands on a right path”—I am right before my enemies. “In the assemblies I will bless”—for the mercies shown to me, for protection I will sing God’s praises in songs before all people and in all assemblies, that is, in religious gatherings.