1<Of David.> To you, O Lord, my soul is lifted up. 2O my God, I have put my faith in you, let me not be shamed; let not my haters be glorying over me. 3Let no servant of yours be put to shame; may those be shamed who are false without cause. 4Make your steps clear to me, O Lord; give me knowledge of your ways. 5Be my guide and teacher in the true way; for you are the God of my salvation; I am waiting for your word all the day. 6O Lord, keep in mind your pity and your mercies; for they have been from the earliest times. 7Do not keep in mind my sins when I was young, or my wrongdoing: let your memory of me be full of mercy, O Lord, because of your righteousness. 8Good and upright is the Lord: so he will be the teacher of sinners in the way. 9He will be an upright guide to the poor in spirit: he will make his way clear to them. 10All the ways of the Lord are mercy and good faith for those who keep his agreement and his witness. 11Because of your name, O Lord, let me have forgiveness for my sin, which is very great. 12If a man has the fear of the Lord, the Lord will be his teacher in the way of his pleasure. 13His soul will be full of good things, and his seed will have the earth for its heritage. 14The secret of the Lord is with those in whose hearts is the fear of him; he will make his agreement clear to them. 15My eyes are turned to the Lord at all times; for he will take my feet out of the net. 16Be turned to me, and have mercy on me; for I am troubled and have no helper. 17The troubles of my heart are increased: O take me out of my sorrows. 18Give thought to my grief and my pain; and take away all my sins. 19See how those who are against me are increased, for bitter is their hate of me. 20O keep my soul, and take me out of danger: let me not be shamed, for I have put my faith in you. 21For my clean and upright ways keep me safe, because my hope is in you. 22Give Israel salvation, O God, out of all his troubles.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Confidence in prayer. (1-7) Prayer for remission of sins. (8-14) For help in affliction. (15-22) 1-7 In worshipping God, we must lift up our souls to him. It is certain that none who, by a believing attendance, wait on God, and, by a believing hope, wait for him, shall be ashamed of it. The most advanced believer both needs and desires to be taught of God. If we sincerely desire to know our duty, with resolution to do it, we may be sure that God will direct us in it. The psalmist is earnest for the pardon of his sins. When God pardons sin, he is said to remember it no more, which denotes full remission. It is God's goodness, and not ours, his mercy, and not our merit, that must be our plea for the pardon of sin, and all the good we need. This plea we must rely upon, feeling our own unworthiness, and satisfied of the riches of God's mercy and grace. How boundless is that mercy which covers for ever the sins and follies of a youth spent without God and without hope! Blessed be the Lord, the blood of the great Sacrifice can wash away every stain. 8-14 We are all sinners; and Christ came into the world to save sinners, to teach sinners, to call sinners to repentance. We value a promise by the character of him that makes it; we therefore depend upon God's promises. All the paths of the Lord, that is, all his promises and all his providences, are mercy and truth. In all God's dealings his people may see his mercy displayed, and his word fulfilled, whatever afflictions they are now exercised with. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth; and so it will appear when they come to their journey's end. Those that are humble, that distrust themselves, and desire to be taught and to follow Divine guidance, these he will guide in judgment, that is, by the rule of the written word, to find rest for their souls in the Saviour. Even when the body is sick, and in pain, the soul may be at ease in God. 15-22 The psalmist concludes, as he began, with expressing dependence upon God, and desire toward him. It is good thus to hope, and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. And if God turns to us, no matter who turns from us. He pleads his own integrity. Though guilty before God, yet, as to his enemies, he had the testimony of conscience that he had done them no wrong. God would, at length, give Israel rest from all their enemies round about. In heaven, God's Israel will be perfectly redeemed from all troubles. Blessed Saviour, thou hast graciously taught us that without thee we can do nothing. Do thou teach us how to pray, how to appear before thee in the way which thou shalt choose, and how to lift up our whole hearts and desires after thee, for thou art the Lord our righteousness.