Pluck My Feet Out of the Net
Psalm 25
One unique aspect of the poetry of the Psalms is found in the “acrostic psalms.” These nine psalms follow the form of the Hebrew alphabet in different ways. The shorter acrostic psalms (111 and 112) begin each short phrase with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The most famous acrostic psalm is 119 where David begins each group of eight verses with each successive letter of the alphabet. Poets are well known for using forms like the sonnet or the haiku, and there is a sense of completeness with this form, kind of an “A to Z” about a given subject. For example, David exhausts completely his love for the law in Psalm 119.
However, when learning how to pray through the psalms, these acrostic poems sometimes need to be liberated from the form to help us pray. At least this is true for me.
Psalm 25 is a perfect example.
This song reads like a follow up to Psalm 24, where David asks the question, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” The answer is one “who does not lift up his soul to what is false” (see Psalm 24.3-4). Psalm 25 begins with the statement, “To you O Lord, I lift up my soul” (1). And the rest of the song, written in an acrostic, describes what it means to lift up your soul only to the Lord.
But to capture the beauty of the song, we need to see the crisis and the request that drives the prayer.
The crisis, the reason why David lifts up his soul to the Lord, is expressed in a variety of ways, including loneliness (16), affliction (16), heart troubles (17), distresses (17), trouble (18), and many foes with violent hatred (19). What brought about such a horrible situation? David seems to know that at least some of his troubles are due to his own sins. In this prayer, he asks the Lord to not remember the sins of his youth (7), to pardon his great guilt (11), and to forgive all his sins (18). Whether his enemies are trying to exalt themselves over him (2) by taking advantage of his sins and failures is unclear, but David is aware that his sins are definitely complicating the situation.
As he cries to the Lord, David makes some very clear statements about what he believes about the Lord. The Lord is trustworthy (2), merciful (6), full of steadfast love (6), good and upright (8), and faithful (10). This is why David is confident that none who wait for the Lord will be put to shame (3) and those who fear the Lord will abide in well-being (13).
While David is asking the Lord to prevent his enemies from exalting over him (2), to pluck his feet out of the net (15), to guard his soul (20), and to deliver him (20), this really is not the primary prayer. The central prayer is that the Lord would make known to David His ways. Notice how often this basic prayer is stated and restated: make me know Your ways (4), teach me Your paths (4), lead me in Your truth (5), teach me (5), instruct this sinner in the way (8), lead the humble in what is right (9), teach the humble His way (9), and instruct the one who fears the Lord in the way that he should choose (12). Eight repetitions of the same prayer: lead me in Your truth.
In the midst of violent enemies and the consequences of his sin, what David wants more than anything else is for the Lord to lead him, teach him, and make him know that paths of the Lord.
Praying this prayer in light of the new covenant in Christ makes perfect sense. Even if we are not surrounded by earthly enemies, we certainly struggle with the spiritual forces of darkness (see Ephesians 6). And these enemies are “wantonly treacherous” (3), both tempting us to sin and taking advantage of us when we do. This battle ground afflicts the heart just as it did David. Our confidence to ask the Lord for help lies in the power of the cross, where our sins are forgiven (18), we are pardoned from our guilt (11), and the Lord remembers our transgressions no more (7). The mercy and grace and steadfast love of God demonstrated on the cross gives us solid ground to cry out for help and deliverance.
But don’t miss the beauty of this acrostic: The Lord is our Shepherd who leads and guides and teaches us His ways, His truth, and His path. This special relationship with the Lord is captured in verse 14. The ESV translates the Hebrew word as “friendship,” but the word means “secret counsel” as other translations make it clear. “The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear Him” (CSB). “The Lord confides in those who fear Him” (NIV). “The Lord’s loyal followers receive His guidance” (NET).
Why would you ever need to pray this prayer? When you find yourself in a mess of your own making, this is the prayer for you.
Sin is not just disobeying God. The wages of sin really are death. Sowing to the flesh really does reap corruption. Often, we need to be delivered from the consequences of our sins. And when we find ourselves tangled in the net of our own creation, we can lean into the goodness of the Lord. The Lord forgives, but more than that, the Lord leads and teaches and instructs and guides. The Lord wants to make known to us His ways, His paths, His truth, His covenant, His life.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me for You are the God of my salvation (5).