Psalm 25 (24):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Endless compassion has consistently surrounded You; for even when man strays into sin, You do not abandon him to his folly. Instead, You maintain hope and do not neglect the vast comfort offered to Your creation.

O Lord, recall Your abundant blessings and everlasting mercies. Do not consider the transgressions of my youth or my ignorance; rather, in Your compassion, think of me. The Prophet has declared that You govern humanity with both humility and mercy. I implore You now to reveal this goodness to me and to keep in mind Your mercy, while I strive to avoid sin. In Your remembrance of me, O Lord, may You act according to Your generosity, rather than my own righteousness. This is reflected in my plea: in Your boundless mercy, remember me. You will recall me mercifully, not my failings. For the sake of Your goodness, I earnestly request this, not based on my worthiness, but rooted in Your compassion.

He said, Lord, keep in mind that you are inherently generous and merciful for all time. When He mentioned remembering, it was not because God has overlooked anything, but rather because He seems to us to forget when assistance is delayed.

These phrases convey a profound and accurate teaching, affirming that no individual can earn His grace through personal merit. When we declare, Thy mercies which are from everlasting, we continually honor the Lord as the source of compassion, who gives His blessings from the very beginning, independent of human achievements. This careful argumentation aids in understanding the harmful nature of Pelagianism.

When God permits individuals to grapple with temptation or to become ensnared in sin, it may feel as though He has overlooked His compassion. Consequently, the righteous person, after enduring a prolonged battle with temptation and recognizing his inability to break free, despite his deep longing to do so, implores God to recall His goodness and mercy. Similarly, David does this as well, beseeching God with the words, Remember, O Lord, that Thou hast been gracious from eternity, and not only gracious but also compassionate, just as a father is gracious and compassionate to his children; for this is an essential trait of Yours.

The everlasting kindness and compassion of God are evident in His creation of mankind, granting them life and redemption through the incarnation, the bloodshed, and the sacrifice of Christ the Lord.