Psalms 25:6

Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they [have been] ever of old.

Remember {H2142}, O LORD {H3068}, thy tender mercies {H7356} and thy lovingkindnesses {H2617}; for they have been ever of old {H5769}.

Remember your compassion and grace, ADONAI; for these are ages old.

Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion, for they are from age to age.

Remember, O Jehovah, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindness; For they have been ever of old.

Context

Psalm 25 is a deeply personal prayer by David, filled with pleas for guidance, forgiveness, and protection from enemies. The psalm is structured somewhat alphabetically (an acrostic, though imperfect in the KJV). Within this prayer, David appeals to God's character as the basis for his requests. Verse 6 follows David's confession of sin and his earnest desire for God's direction, grounding his hope not in his own merit, but in the enduring nature of God's grace.

Commentary

This verse is a direct appeal to God, urging Him to remember His own inherent nature. David asks the LORD to recall His "tender mercies" and "lovingkindnesses," emphasizing that these attributes are not new or temporary, but have existed "ever of old." It's a powerful reminder that God's compassion and faithfulness are foundational to His character and have been demonstrated throughout history, providing a solid ground for present and future hope.

Key Themes

  • God's Mercy: The verse highlights God's deep compassion and pity towards humanity, His willingness to show grace despite unworthiness.
  • God's Lovingkindness (Chesed): This term signifies God's covenant loyalty, steadfast love, and faithfulness, which are enduring and reliable.
  • God's Eternal Faithfulness: The phrase "ever of old" underscores the timeless nature of God's benevolent attributes, indicating that His character is unchanging and dependable across generations.
  • Prayer Based on God's Character: David models praying by appealing to who God is, rather than solely on personal need or merit.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version uses two significant Hebrew terms here:

  • "Tender mercies" translates rachamim, related to the word for "womb," suggesting a deep, visceral compassion and pity, like a parent's love for a child.
  • "Lovingkindnesses" translates chesed, a rich term encompassing covenant love, loyalty, faithfulness, and grace. It speaks of God's steadfast commitment to His promises and His people.

The combination emphasizes both God's emotional compassion and His faithful adherence to His covenant relationship.

Related Scriptures

This verse resonates with many other passages that speak of God's enduring nature and grace:

  • Psalm 103:8: "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
  • Psalm 118:1: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever."
  • Lamentations 3:22: "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."
  • Exodus 34:6: Describes the LORD as "The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth."

David's appeal is rooted in the historical demonstration of God's character, a theme consistent throughout scripture.

Reflection

Psalms 25:6 offers great comfort and a model for prayer. When we face difficulties, sin, or uncertainty, we can, like David, appeal to the unchanging character of God. We don't ask God to *become* merciful or loving; we ask Him to *remember* and act according to the perpetual nature of His being. His tender mercies and lovingkindnesses are not fleeting emotions but eternal attributes that have been evident "ever of old" and remain available to us today.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Colossians 3:12

    ¶ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

  • Psalms 103:17

    But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

  • Luke 1:50

    And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.

  • Luke 1:78

    Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

  • Jeremiah 33:11

    The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD [is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: [and] of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

  • Micah 7:18

    Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.

  • Micah 7:20

    Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, [and] the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back