Psalm 25:5
Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.
Guide me
The phrase "Guide me" in Psalm 25:5 reflects a deep yearning for divine direction. The Hebrew root for "guide" is "נָחָה" (nachah), which conveys the idea of leading or directing someone along a path. In the ancient Near Eastern context, guidance was often associated with shepherds leading their flocks, a metaphor frequently used in the Bible to describe God's care and direction for His people. This plea for guidance underscores the psalmist's recognition of human limitations and the need for God's wisdom and direction in life's journey.

in Your truth
The phrase "in Your truth" emphasizes the desire to be led by God's truth, which is absolute and unchanging. The Hebrew word for "truth" is "אֱמֶת" (emet), signifying firmness, faithfulness, and reliability. In the biblical context, truth is not merely factual correctness but encompasses God's faithfulness and covenantal promises. The psalmist seeks to be guided by the divine truth that stands in contrast to the shifting and unreliable nature of human understanding. This reflects a conservative Christian perspective that upholds the Bible as the ultimate source of truth.

and teach me
"Teach me" is a request for instruction and understanding. The Hebrew root "לָמַד" (lamad) means to learn or be trained. In the biblical tradition, teaching is not just about imparting knowledge but involves shaping character and behavior according to God's will. The psalmist's plea for teaching indicates a humble acknowledgment of the need for divine wisdom and a willingness to be molded by God's instruction. This aligns with the conservative Christian emphasis on discipleship and spiritual growth through the study of Scripture.

for You are the God of my salvation
This phrase acknowledges God as the source of salvation. The Hebrew word for "salvation" is "יֵשַׁע" (yesha), which denotes deliverance, safety, and victory. In the historical context of the Old Testament, salvation often referred to deliverance from physical enemies or peril. However, it also points to the ultimate spiritual salvation found in God. The psalmist's declaration of God as the "God of my salvation" reflects a personal relationship and trust in God's saving power, a core tenet of conservative Christian faith that sees Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God's promise of salvation.

all day long
The phrase "all day long" signifies continuous reliance and trust in God. It suggests an ongoing, daily dependence on God's guidance and teaching. In the Hebrew context, this expression underscores the importance of a consistent and enduring faith that permeates every aspect of life. For conservative Christians, this highlights the call to live a life of constant prayer, devotion, and reliance on God, recognizing that His presence and guidance are needed every moment of the day. This continuous trust is a testament to a life fully surrendered to God's will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 25, King David, is expressing his reliance on God for guidance and truth. He is a central figure in the Old Testament, known for his deep relationship with God and his role as a leader of Israel.

2. God
Referred to as the "God of my salvation," highlighting His role as the deliverer and sustainer of David's life. This emphasizes God's sovereignty and faithfulness.

3. Israel
While not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of David's life and his role as king places this psalm within the broader account of Israel's history and their covenant relationship with God.
Teaching Points
Dependence on Divine Guidance
As believers, we are called to seek God's guidance in all aspects of life, recognizing that His truth is the ultimate source of wisdom.

God as the Source of Salvation
Acknowledge God as the foundation of our salvation, understanding that our deliverance and hope are rooted in His character and promises.

The Discipline of Waiting
Cultivate patience and trust in God's timing, learning to wait on Him with expectation and faithfulness throughout our daily lives.

The Role of Scripture in Guidance
Engage with the Bible regularly, allowing it to shape our understanding and decisions, as it is the primary means through which God reveals His truth.

Prayer as a Means of Seeking Guidance
Develop a consistent prayer life, asking God to guide and teach us, just as David did, and being open to His leading.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God as the "God of my salvation" influence your daily walk with Him?

2. In what ways can you actively seek God's guidance and truth in your life today?

3. How does the discipline of waiting on God challenge or encourage you in your current circumstances?

4. What role does Scripture play in your decision-making process, and how can you incorporate it more effectively?

5. How can you cultivate a prayer life that mirrors David's desire for guidance and teaching from God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 119:105
This verse speaks of God's word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, connecting to the theme of divine guidance found in Psalm 25:5.

John 14:6
Jesus declares Himself as "the way, the truth, and the life," which aligns with the request for guidance in truth in Psalm 25:5.

Isaiah 40:31
This verse speaks of waiting on the Lord and renewing strength, paralleling the theme of waiting on God found in Psalm 25:5.
Guiding and TeachingWilliam Scott.Psalm 25:5
How to Spend the Day with GodMatthew Henry.Psalm 25:5
Prolonged Waiting Upon GodThomas G. Selby.Psalm 25:5
Waiting on GodW. G. Barrett.Psalm 25:5
Onward and UpwardW. Forsyth Psalm 25:1-7
Trust in GodC. Short Psalm 25:1-7
Prayer: its Warrant, Petitions, and ArgumentsC. Clemance Psalm 25:1-22
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
TRUE, Guide, Hope, Lead, Salvation, Savior, Teach, Teacher, Tread, Truth, Wait, Waited, Waiting, Walk
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 25:5

     1461   truth, nature of
     5763   attitudes, positive to God
     8678   waiting on God

Psalm 25:3-6

     8215   confidence, results

Psalm 25:4-5

     5914   optimism

Library
June 14. "The Secret of the Lord is with them that Fear Him" (Ps. xxv. 14).
"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him" (Ps. xxv. 14). There are secrets of Providence which God's dear children may learn. His dealing with them often seems, to the outward eye, dark and terrible. Faith looks deeper and says, "This is God's secret. You look only on the outside; I can look deeper and see the hidden meaning." Sometimes diamonds are done up in rough packages, so that their value cannot be seen. When the tabernacle was built in the wilderness there was nothing rich in its
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

A Prayer for Pardon and Its Plea
'For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.'--PSALM xxv. 11. The context shows us that this is the prayer of a man who had long loved and served God. He says that 'on God' he 'waits all the day,' that his 'eyes are ever toward the Lord,' that he has 'integrity and uprightness' which will 'preserve him, for he waits upon God,' and yet side by side with this consciousness of devotion and service there lie the profound sense of sin and of the need of pardon. The better a man
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Guidance in Judgment
'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.'--PSALM xxv. 8, 9. The Psalmist prays in this psalm for three things: deliverance, guidance, and forgiveness. Of these three petitions the central one is that for guidance. 'Show me Thy ways, O Lord,' he asks in a previous verse; where he means by 'Thy ways,' not God's dealings with men, but men's conduct as prescribed by God. In my text he exchanges
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Safe Walking.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "All the Paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies."--PSALM xxv. 10. Safe Walking. The paths of the Lord? My soul! never follow thine own paths. If thou dost so, thou wilt be in danger often of following sight rather than faith,--choosing the evil, and refusing the good. But "commit thy way unto the Lord, and He shall bring it to pass." Let this be thy prayer, "Show me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths." Oh! for
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

On the Contemplation of Human Misery
Thou art miserable wheresoever thou art, and whithersoever thou turnest, unless thou turn thee to God. Why art thou disquieted because it happeneth not to thee according to thy wishes and desires? Who is he that hath everything according to his will? Neither I, nor thou, nor any man upon the earth. There is no man in the world free from trouble or anguish, though he were King or Pope. Who is he who hath the happiest lot? Even he who is strong to suffer somewhat for God. 2. There are many foolish
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Both Things are Specially Worthy of Notice. ...
Both things are specially worthy of notice. First, let every one in professing to pray turn thither all his thoughts and feelings, and be not (as is usual) distracted by wandering thoughts; because nothing is more contrary to the reverence due to God than that levity which bespeaks a mind too much given to license and devoid of fear. In this matter we ought to labour the more earnestly the more difficult we experience it to be; for no man is so intent on prayer as not to feel many thoughts creeping
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

In Fine, Supplication for Pardon, with Humble and Ingenuous Confession of Guilt...
In fine, supplication for pardon, with humble and ingenuous confession of guilt, forms both the preparation and commencement of right prayer. For the holiest of men cannot hope to obtain anything from God until he has been freely reconciled to him. God cannot be propitious to any but those whom he pardons. Hence it is not strange that this is the key by which believers open the door of prayer, as we learn from several passages in The Psalms. David, when presenting a request on a different subject,
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

Christ Teaching by Parables
We have spoken of our Saviour as "The Great Teacher," and tried to point out some of the things in his teaching which helped to make him great. And now, it may be well to speak a little of the illustrations which he made use of as a Teacher. These are called--parables. Our Saviour's parables were illustrations. This is what is meant by the Greek word from which we get the word parable. It means something set down by the side of another. When we teach a lesson we are setting something before the
Richard Newton—The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young

The General Resurrection
Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. A n object, great in itself, and which we know to be so, will appear small to us, if we view it from a distance. The stars, for example, in our view, are but as little specks
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

How to Make Use of Christ as the Life, when the Believer is So Sitten-Up in the Ways of God, that He Can do Nothing.
Sometimes the believer is under such a distemper of weakness and deadness, that there is almost no commanded duty that he can go about; his heart and all is so dead, that he cannot so much as groan under that deadness. Yea, he may be under such a decay, that little or no difference will be observed betwixt him and others that are yet in nature; and be not only unable to go actively and lively about commanded duties, yea, or to wrestle from under that deadness; but also be so dead, that he shall scarce
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Of the Fewness of those who Love the Cross of Jesus
Jesus hath many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His Cross. He hath many seekers of comfort, but few of tribulation. He findeth many companions of His table, but few of His fasting. All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to undergo anything for His sake. Many follow Jesus that they may eat of His loaves, but few that they may drink of the cup of His passion. Many are astonished at His Miracles, few follow after the shame of His Cross. Many love Jesus so long as no
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

May one Lose the Blessing?
The question trembles from many a lip--If I get the blessing, may I lose it? Most certainly. But, glory be to God! He has made ample provision for failure. There is no reason why we should fail; God has made ample provision against failure; we must not expect to fail; but in case we do fail, provision has been made. The most prolific cause of loss is disobedience--disobedience either to one of God's written commands, or to the inward promptings of His Holy Spirit. "The Holy Ghost whom God hath
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

Lastly; they who Will Not, by the Arguments and Proofs Before Mentioned,
be convinced of the truth and certainty of the Christian religion, and be persuaded to make it the rule and guide of all their actions, would not be convinced, (so far as to influence their practice and reform their lives,) by any other evidence whatsoever; no, not though one should rise on purpose from the dead to endeavour to convince them. That the evidence which God has afforded us of the truth of our religion is abundantly sufficient. From what has been said, upon the foregoing heads, it is
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It.
1. A general summary of what is contained in the previous part of the work. A transition to the doctrine of prayer. Its connection with the subject of faith. 2. Prayer defined. Its necessity and use. 3. Objection, that prayer seems useless, because God already knows our wants. Answer, from the institution and end of prayer. Confirmation by example. Its necessity and propriety. Perpetually reminds us of our duty, and leads to meditation on divine providence. Conclusion. Prayer a most useful exercise.
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Great Teacher
Teaching was the great business of the life of Christ during the days of his public ministry. He was sent to teach and to preach. The speaker in the book of Job was thinking of this Great Teacher when he asked--"Who teacheth like him?" Job xxxvi: 22. And it was he who was in the Psalmist's mind when he spoke of the "good, and upright Lord" who would teach sinners, if they were meek, how to walk in his ways. Ps. xxv: 8-9. And he is the Redeemer, of whom the prophet Isaiah was telling when he said--He
Richard Newton—The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young

Out of the Deep of Suffering and Sorrow.
Save me, O God, for the waters are come in even unto my soul: I am come into deep waters; so that the floods run over me.--Ps. lxix. 1, 2. I am brought into so great trouble and misery: that I go mourning all the day long.--Ps. xxxviii. 6. The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: Oh! bring Thou me out of my distress.--Ps. xxv. 17. The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping: the Lord will receive my prayer.--Ps. vi. 8. In the multitude of the sorrows which I had in my heart, Thy comforts have refreshed
Charles Kingsley—Out of the Deep

"He is the Rock, his Work is Perfect. For all his Ways are Judgment. A God of Truth, and Without Iniquity, Just and Right is He.
Deut. xxxii. 4, 5.--"He is the rock, his work is perfect. For all his ways are judgment. A God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he. They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children. They are a perverse and crooked generation." "All his ways are judgment," both the ways of his commandments and the ways of his providence, both his word which he hath given as a lantern to men's paths, and his works among men. And this were the blessedness of men, to be found
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
DO not mistake me, I do not say that of their own nature the worst things are good, for they are a fruit of the curse; but though they are naturally evil, yet the wise overruling hand of God disposing and sanctifying them, they are morally good. As the elements, though of contrary qualities, yet God has so tempered them, that they all work in a harmonious manner for the good of the universe. Or as in a watch, the wheels seem to move contrary one to another, but all carry on the motions of the watch:
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Or are we Indeed to Believe that it is for any Other Reason...
41. Or are we indeed to believe that it is for any other reason, that God suffers to be mixed up with the number of your profession, many, both men and women, about to fall, than that by the fall of these your fear may be increased, whereby to repress pride; which God so hates, as that against this one thing The Highest humbled Himself? Unless haply, in truth, thou shalt therefore fear less, and be more puffed up, so as to love little Him, Who hath loved thee so much, as to give up Himself for thee,
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

First Sunday after Epiphany
Text: Romans 12, 1-6. 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

A Divine Cordial
We know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans viii. 28. Introduction IF the whole Scripture be the feast of the soul, as Ambrose said, then Romans 8 may be a dish at that feast, and with its sweet variety may very much refresh and animate the hearts of Gods people. In the preceding verses the apostle had been wading through the great doctrines of justification and adoption, mysteries so arduous and profound, that
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Vanity of Human Glory.
"The world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not."--1 John iii. 1 Of St. Simon and St. Jude, the Saints whom we this day commemorate, little is known[1]. St. Jude, indeed, still lives in the Church in his Catholic epistle; but of his history we only know that he was brother to St. James the Less, and nearly related to our Lord and that, like St. Peter, he had been a married man. Besides his name of Jude or Judas, he is also called Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus in the Gospels. Of St. Simon we only
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Kingdom of God Conceived as the Inheritance of the Poor.
These maxims, good for a country where life is nourished by the air and the light, and this delicate communism of a band of children of God reposing in confidence on the bosom of their Father, might suit a simple sect constantly persuaded that its Utopia was about to be realized. But it is clear that they could not satisfy the whole of society. Jesus understood very soon, in fact, that the official world of his time would by no means adopt his kingdom. He took his resolution with extreme boldness.
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

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