Psa 25:1 | KD | STEP | A question similar to the question, Who may ascend the mountain of Jahve ? which propounded, is thrown out by Ps 25, <, Who is he that feareth Jahve ? in order to answer it in great and glorious promises. It is calmly confident prayer for help against one’s foes, and for God’s instructing, pardoning, and leading grace. It is without any definite background indicating the history of the times in which it was composed; and also without any clearly marked traits of individuality. But it is one of the nine alphabetical Psalms of the whole collection, and the companion to Ps 34, to which it corresponds even in many peculiarities of the acrostic structure. For both Psalms have no ו strophe; they are parallel both as to sound and meaning in the beginnings of the מ, ע, and the first פ strophes; and both Psalms, after having gone through the alphabet, have a פ strophe added as the concluding one, whose beginning and contents are closely related. This homogeneousness points to one common author. We see nothing in the alphabetical arrangement at least, which even here as in is handled very freely and not fully carried out, to hinder us from regarding David as this author. But, in connection with the general ethical and religious character of the Psalm, it is wanting in positive proofs of this. In its universal character and harmony with the plan of redemption Ps 25 coincides with many post-exilic Psalms. It contains nothing but what is common to the believing consciousness of the church in every age; nothing specifically belonging to the Old Testament and Israelitish, hence Theodoret says: ἁρμόζει μάλιστα τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν κεκλημένοις. The introits for the second and third Quadragesima Sundays are taken from and ; hence these Sundays are called Reminiscere and Oculi . Paul Gerhardt’s hymn “Nach dir, o Herr, verlanget mich” is a beautiful poetical rendering of this Psalm.

‏ Psalms 25:1

Prayer for Gracious Protection and Guidance

A question similar to the question, Who may ascend the mountain of Jahve? which Psa 24:1-10 propounded, is thrown out by Ps 25, <, Who is he that feareth Jahve? in order to answer it in great and glorious promises. It is calmly confident prayer for help against one’s foes, and for God’s instructing, pardoning, and leading grace. It is without any definite background indicating the history of the times in which it was composed; and also without any clearly marked traits of individuality. But it is one of the nine alphabetical Psalms of the whole collection, and the companion to Ps 34, to which it corresponds even in many peculiarities of the acrostic structure. For both Psalms have no ו strophe; they are parallel both as to sound and meaning in the beginnings of the מ, ע, and the first פ strophes; and both Psalms, after having gone through the alphabet, have a פ strophe added as the concluding one, whose beginning and contents are closely related. This homogeneousness points to one common author. We see nothing in the alphabetical arrangement at least, which even here as in Ps 9-10 is handled very freely and not fully carried out, to hinder us from regarding David as this author. But, in connection with the general ethical and religious character of the Psalm, it is wanting in positive proofs of this. In its universal character and harmony with the plan of redemption Ps 25 coincides with many post-exilic Psalms. It contains nothing but what is common to the believing consciousness of the church in every age; nothing specifically belonging to the Old Testament and Israelitish, hence Theodoret says: ἁρμόζει μάλιστα τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν κεκλημένοις. The introits for the second and third Quadragesima Sundays are taken from Psa 25:6 and Psa 25:15; hence these Sundays are called Reminiscere and Oculi. Paul Gerhardt’s hymn “Nach dir, o Herr, verlanget mich” is a beautiful poetical rendering of this Psalm.