We have been studying Psalm 25, David’s prayer book intertwined within his songbook.  We look this week at ‘A Prayer of Restitution’ in verses 15-22, which says, “Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.”

In verse 15 David tells us that he has his eyes ever fixed upon the LORD.  In a physical realm his feet are in a net.  The net in the Bible speaks of a great temptation.  His physical realm finds him under the burden of temptation but spiritually his heart is fixed on the LORD.  Because of David’s focus the LORD shall ‘pluck’ his feet from the net.  The word ‘pluck’ means to be caught out of or away from.  Oh, let us be looking His way during our darkest hour of temptation and be assured of His lifting presence.

In verse 16 David is not sure of the LORD’S presence.  He pleads the mercy of God to look his way because he is ‘desolate and afflicted’.  The word ‘desolate’ means to become lonely in one’s life.  The word ‘afflicted’ means depressed in mind or circumstances.  In the midst of this darkness David pleads the mercy of God.  He asks for God to withhold from him what he deserves.  We can be assured of God’s undivided attention when we come on the grounds of His bountiful mercy.

In verses 17-18 David mentions six adjectives to describe the darkness of his life.  They are afflicted, trouble, enlarged, distress, affliction, and pain.  David connects the pains of sorrow with his sins.  He asks God to ‘forgive’ all his sins. (To remit or remove completely)  “Blessed is the man to whom sin is more unbearable than disease.  Men are slow to see this intimate connection between sin and sorrow, a grace taught heart alone feels it.” (Spurgeon)

Much of our sorrow, sickness, and disease have their roots in our fall into the depravity of sin.

In verse 19 of this prayer David asks for the LORD to ‘consider’ his enemies.  The word ‘consider’ means to watch, weigh, check, and defeat them.  His enemies are multiple and hate him with cruel hatred.  In our prayers let us be reminded they hated our Lord before they turned it upon us.  Our Lord said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.”

In verse 20 David reminds the LORD of his ‘trust’.  The word ‘trust’ means a total reliance of one upon another.  Because of this trust he asks for deliverance that will not cause him ‘shame’.  The word, ‘deliver’ means to snatch away.  The word ‘ashamed’ means to cause to be disappointed.  When life deals us hard times let us trust in Him through prayer and be assured of His snatching hand being brought to bear our situation.  We will not be disappointed when we trust in Him.

David tells us in verse 21, ‘he waits before the LORD’.  He asks the likeness of Christ to be the basis of his preservation.  Integrity and true uprightness comes only from above.

David closes his prayer in an awesome way.  He tells us in verse 22 that it is not all about him.  He asks God to intervene for the people of Israel.  Paul prayed in Romans 10, “Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer for Israel is that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”  Oh how I am convicted in this hour that when there is a temptation to be anti-Jew, let us become more pro-Jew especially in our times of prayer.  Let us remember our Saviour was a Jew.  Oh, what rest it will bring to us as well as to our nation.