The ABCs of Forgiveness: Help When Shamed by Sin (Ps 25)

Read Psalm 25:

Of David

¹ To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. ² O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. ³ Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

⁴ Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. ⁵ Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. ⁶ Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. ⁷ Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

⁸ Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. ⁹ He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. ¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

¹¹ For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

¹² Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. ¹³ His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. ¹⁴ The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. ¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. ¹⁷ The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. ¹⁸ Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. ¹⁹ Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. ²⁰ Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. ²¹ May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

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

Understand Psalm 25:

Psalm 25 is an acrostic psalm written by King David in which each verse begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostics display the artistic skill of the poet and the beauties of God’s Word. They provide structure for the poem and are helpful aids for memorization. Yet perhaps they also demonstrate how God’s Word is sufficient from beginning to end (aleph to taw). God’s Word stands as both the first and final word about matters of life and godliness. In particular, Psalm 25 presents seven actions we must take when shamed by sin.

A. Trust God’s Protection (vv. 1-3)

David begins with a statement of trust: “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust” (vv. 1-2a). Unlike the idolator in 24:4, the true worshiper lifts his eyes to Yahweh alone. He presents himself, body and soul, before the covenant-keeping God and speaks directly, “O LORD” to the One he intimately knows. David trusts the Lord to protect him from public shame (25:2b-c)—not the modern notion of feeling embarrassed, but the ancient concept of being disappointed or abandoned (Isa 28:16; 49:23; Rom 5:5; 9:33; 10:11). Shame carried the sense of being betrayed by those you once thought to be trustworthy. So David essentially cries out, “O God, do not abandon me! Don’t let my enemies rejoice over my demise. I have staked my entire claim on you” (Pss 25:2-3; 35:26).

Like a “trust fall” when the blindfolded person is told to lean back into empty space for others to catch them, God also says to his children, “Trust me. I promise I will not let you fall. I won’t let you be ashamed by any of your past sins.” What a glorious promise for all of us have made enough mistakes in life to fill a gossip column. For each of us, specific memories may still come to mind: addiction, immortality, anger, lies. Yet God will not let us be filled with shame, but with the wonders of his grace when we think on our past sin. David could worship God even as he looked at Solomon, his son—the child of adultery. By grace, God makes our sin a part of his good news. By grace, he will never let us fall.

B. Pray God’s Word (vv. 4-7)

God’s will is that we not only trust him to protect us from our shame, but that we also pray his Word. Like a final will and testament, a person’s written word communicates their desires. Thus, David pleads, “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me” (Ps 25:4-5a). “Your ways” and “your paths” metaphorically depict God’s truth in every aspect of his life. God’s Word is sovereign and sufficient to teach us how to live.

These verbs are causative because no human wisdom, clever intellect, or planning expertise can discern the will of God. Only God himself can make us know his ways, teach us his paths, and lead us in his truth. Therefore, God’s will is not so much discovered as it is received from the God of our salvation (v. 5b-c). David waits confidently “all day long” for the faithful God to guide him through life’s myriad of challenges. He willingly leans back to let God catch him. Yet David’s faith is more than just a trust fall in the dark. Instead, he grounds his confidence in the Scriptures by praying God’s Word back to him. “Remember me, O God, like a mother passionately loves the child in her womb.[1] Remember me, O God, like a husband loves his wife with covenant-keeping grace. Remember me—the sinner, but remember not my sins” (vv. 6-7).[2] David reflects on God’s revelation in Exodus 34:6-7a, “You say you’re merciful, then show me your mercy. You say you’re gracious, then show me your grace. You promise your steadfast love and faithfulness, therefore keep me in your promises and lead me in your truth. You claim to patiently forgive, so remember not my transgression and my sin.” David teaches us how to pray God’s Word.

Do you know God’s Word so well that you can draw upon his promises at will. Like the psalmist, do you base your confidence in God’s unchanging Word? The only true prayers that God will answer are prayers according to his Word (Ps 37:4). So pray to God as he reveals himself in Scripture and call on him to keep his promises. His will is that you pray his Word.

C. Follow God’s Way (vv. 8-10)

As the Lord makes known to us his Word, then we must follow in his way. David turns from his plea for deliverance (25:4-7) to his praise for God’s instruction (vv. 8-9). He grounds his gratitude in the constancy of God’s good and upright character. Yet how can the Lord give to sinners what they justly deserve and still be known as merciful? How can a holy God overlook man’s wickedness, while still enacting his perfect wrath?

David claims that God will only save the humble—the one who knows he is a sinner (Rom 5:8), for the Great Physician only comes to heal the sick (Mark 2:16). Pride keeps us from our good and gentle Shepherd (Jas 4:6). Yet “all the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies” (Ps 25:10). Here is the first mention of the word “covenant” in the psalms, for it is not enough to simply know God’s Word. When he is our God and we are his people, we must follow in his way (119:105).

Yet the humble realize we cannot perfectly keep God’s law—that we cannot be saved by sinless perfection. Walking in God’s way means we obey his Word one faith-filled step at a time. This takes humility to wait on God, to seek his will in prayer, to obey him without question, and to yield our lives to him completely. In our obedience, however, we become like Christ, who took upon himself his Father’s wrath and poured out mercy on undeserving sinners.

D. Accept God’s Forgiveness (v. 11)

Most importantly, we must accept the forgiveness of our God. Here is the central focus of the entire psalm: “For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great” (25:11).[3] David pleads with God to uphold his glorious honor and reputation. He calls upon the gracious and merciful God to act according to his character (Exod 34:7).

We often tend to minimize our sin: “Pardon my guilt, Lord, for it is small. It’s not that big a deal.” David, however, claims our guilt is great because we sin against a holy God and place his reputation on the line. If one man robs his neighbor he might pay a fine or go to jail, but stealing from a king like David could result in death. The greatness of our guilt depends upon the one offended. Therefore, God will not forgive until we acknowledge the magnitude of our sin: “Pardon my guilt, Lord, for it is great.”

This Old Testament psalm foreshadows the gospel of Jesus Christ who “bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Pet 2:24). In his uprightness God had to punish sin, yet in his goodness he sent his Son to die in place of sinners (John 3:16). In his justice our sin was great, yet by his mercy God’s grace was greater. For the sake of his Father’s name, Jesus died to make us right with God. Therefore, like a skilled surgeon operating on a desperate patient, our Lord receives the greater glory when our sin is at its worst. The depth of our need proportionately elevates the heights of his praise, for he is no Savior who can handle only the smallest of sinners. His blood has the power to pardon all our guilt, though it is great. God’s will is that you receive forgiveness for the sake of his glorious name.

E. Fear God’s Greatness (vv. 12-15)

As we receive forgiveness, however, we then fear God’s greatness, for our Creator who stills the wind and stops the waves of guilt and shame compels us to bow before his holy presence (Mark 4:39, 41). We testify as in Psalm 130:4, “With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” Thus, we rejoice in the God of our salvation even as we fear him.

God’s will is that we fear him, in order that he may bless us (25:12-14). Israel would receive the promised land (Gen 15:18) and the blessings of God’s covenant (Deut 4:1). They would dwell forever with the Lord and learn from his instruction (Ps 111:10). Likewise, as friends of God, he confides in those who fear him. He shares his secrets, if you will, with we who are his friends (Jer 23:18, 22; Amos 3:7). God initiates this relationship and makes known to us his covenant. He instructs us in the way he chooses and determines the course of our lives. Thus, David proclaims, “My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net” (Ps 25:15; 1 Thess 5:17). So if we desire to be taught and led by God—if we want to find his will and follow in his way, then we must form the habit of looking to him often: Read his Word. Converse in prayer. Humble ourselves in the fear of him. The righteous path is too hard to walk without the friendship and companionship of our God.

One way to keep our eyes ever toward the Lord is to take a passage of Scripture like Psalm 25 and recount the various attributes of God’s self-revelation. True friends know each other well, so if we would be the friends of God we must take time to get to know him. Our God will never let us down. He will never disappoint us or leave us in our shame. In fact, the more we get to know him, the more we will love him for who he is.

Yahweh is the covenant-keeper of our souls (v. 1).
He is trustworthy and faithful to show up when we need him: “None who wait for you shall be put to shame” (vv. 2-3).
His Word is truth and his path will lead to sure salvation (vv. 4-5).
He is merciful and loving “from of old” (v. 6).
He is “good and upright” (vv. 7-8).
He restores the humble and fulfills his Word (vv. 9-10).
He forgives our sin, though it is great (v. 11).
He is a Friend to those who fear him (vv. 12-14).
The Lord is also our gracious Protector (vv. 16-20), our vindicating Judge (v. 21), and the Redeemer of his people (v. 22).

F. Await God’s Deliverance (vv. 16-21)

God has promised to forgive, therefore David waits for God’s deliverance despite his many struggles:

“I am lonely and afflicted” (v. 16b).
“The troubles of my heart are enlarged” (v. 17a).
“Consider my affliction and my trouble, and . . . all my sins” (v. 18).
“Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me” (v. 19).

David’s problems are both internal and external, making him spiritually and physically vulnerable. Sin ultimately lies at the root of all his suffering (v. 18), so David waits for God’s deliverance:

“Turn to me and be gracious” (v. 16a).
“Bring me out of my distresses” (v. 17b).
“Consider me; Forgive me; Observe my pain” (vv. 18-19).
“Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame” (v. 20a-b).

David’s confidence rests in God’s just and holy character: “For I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you” (vv. 20c-21).[4] David trusts the Lord to vindicate him for his life of integrity (26:1; 1 Kgs 9:4): “Lord, deliver me as I humbly rely upon your gracious mercy. I confess my past sins and rest in your forgiveness. I wait patiently for you to act.” David has tried, however imperfectly, to walk according to God’s ways. He is not “treacherous without cause” like the wicked (v. 3) as he waits for God to save him.

Sometimes, even in the church, we deal with criticism, guilt, or shame. Yet we trust our God to vindicate the righteous from those who falsely accuse us or who continually bring up past sins. We remember how we’ve been forgiven by a gracious God and take refuge in his sure salvation.

G. Intercede for God’s People (vv. 22)

Finally, we intercede for others as Psalm 25 concludes: “Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.” In this last line, David stops thinking about himself and looks to the whole of God’s people. He moves from supplication to intercession—from personal prayer to pleading for all of Israel. Again, he addresses God directly, for if the Lord could rescue David from his sin, then he could do the same for Israel.

Once more, we wonder how God could redeem his sinful people whose history was filled with idolatrous rebellion. Israel often turned to other gods and neglected the one, true God. So how could God be righteous, yet forgive his people’s sin? How could he justify his saving mercy? The psalm’s dilemma points us forward to Jesus Christ who would rescue sinners by his grace (Rom 3:24). Christ’s blood would be our propitiation—or covering for sin (v. 25) and his perfect life our righteousness. Thus, God declares himself both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (v. 26). He is both good and upright—merciful and holy—forgiving and wrathful against our sin. For Jesus would be the Redeemer of all who put their faith in him and a Friend to all who fear him. He would accomplish everything that we could not: a sinless life and perfect obedience to his Father’s will. He would walk according to God’s Word and in his way, then take our guilt upon himself though it was great. Yet Jesus would be vindicated in his resurrection and his uprightness proven in the end (Rom 4:25). Thus, Jesus would fulfill the psalmist’s prayer for God to redeem his people and deliver them from trouble. In him, we are the friends of God. So lift up your soul to him and, even in the face of death, you will never be ashamed.

Apply Psalm 25:

Observe how many times “way(s)” or “paths” appear in this psalm (vv. 4a, 4b, 7, 8b, 9b, 10a, 12b). How is this a metaphor for God’s Word and God’s will?
Trace David’s meditation on Exodus 34:6-7 as he wrote Psalm 25. Then reflect on Romans 3:23-26 as David introduces the gospel in this Old Testament psalm.
How does Psalm 25 teach you to trust God for both internal struggles and external dangers? Learn to wait humbly on the Lord before making decisions during a crisis.
What constitutes a mother’s love for the child in her womb or a godly husband’s love for his wife? How do these complementary characteristics depict God’s love for you?
David focuses on the God who forgives our sin, though it is great (vv. 7, 11, 18). Has the Lord convicted you of any sins you must confess?
Compare David’s problems with God’s solutions (vv. 16-21). What specific promises has God made to his children today? Practice claiming those promises in your everyday life.
Sing the hymn, “Unto Thee, O Lord,” by Charles F. Monroe (1971). How well have you embraced the wonders of God’s forgiveness? Let even the remembrance of past sins direct your heart to praise him.

Counsel Psalm 25:

Fallen sinners often feel shame over past sins even though they have received forgiveness. This may occur because of their false understanding of grace or because of false accusations from the world, the flesh, or the Devil. Direct your counselees to rest in God’s forgiveness and to meditate on his good and gracious character as displayed in the atonement of Christ. For further study, consider Robert D. Jones, Forgiveness: I Just Can’t Forgive Myself! (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2000).

Projects for Growth (Psalm 25)

Read Exodus 34:6-7 and show how David prayed God’s Word back to him in Psalm 25. Then reflect on the gospel principles in Romans 3:23-26 which David introduces in this psalm.
Describe how you can relate to some of David’s struggles (vv. 16-19).
David focuses on the God who forgives our sin, though it is great (vv. 7, 11, 18). Has the Lord convicted you of any sins you must confess?
What can you learn from David about waiting for God to deliver you (vv. 16-21)?
Meditate on the various attributes of God’s self-revelation in Psalm 25.
What constitutes a mother’s love for the child in her womb or a godly husband’s love for his wife? How do these complementary characteristics depict God’s love for you?
Sing the hymn, “Unto Thee, O Lord,” by Charles F. Monroe (1971). How well have you embraced the wonders of God’s forgiveness? Let even the remembrance of past sins direct your heart to praise him.
For further study, read Kim Shadday, “Do I Need to Forgive Myself?,” ACBC (blog), accessed at https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource-library/articles/do-i-need-to-forgive-myself.

Pray Psalm 25:

O Lord, forgive my sins and pardon my guilt (vv. 7, 11, 18).
Cause me to walk in your way of truth (vv. 4-5, 9-10, 12).
Teach me to fear you, but to also know you as friend (vv. 12-15).
Redeem your people through the lovingkindness of your Son (v. 22).

[1] “Your mercy” is related to the noun for “womb” and represents the feelings of a mother for her pre-born child (see Jer 31:20; Hos 11:1-8).

[2] David’s chiasm in verses 6-7 focuses on God’s forgiveness of sin, but surrounds it with gospel mercies, goodness, and lovingkindness.

A Remember your mercies, O LORD (v. 6a)

B Remember your steadfast love (v. 6b)

C Remember not my sins or my transgressions (v. 7a)

B’ Remember your steadfast love (v. 7b)

A’ Remember your goodness, O LORD (v. 7c)

[3] The chiastic structure of Psalm 25 focuses on verse 11.

[4] The dual themes of “waiting patiently for Yahweh” and of “not being put to shame” frame the outer borders of Psalm 25 in verses 2-3 and 20-21. In the words of Charles Spurgeon, faith is “the lever by which we lift our heavy hearts up to God in prayer” (Spurgeon, Treasury of David, 1:391).