Trust God to respond with grace and comfort when you feel alone and troubled.
“Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted.” (v.16) These heartfelt words come from a psalm attributed to David, the shepherd-king of Israel who reigned from around 1010-970 BC in Jerusalem. Though famed for his military victories and for uniting the tribes of Israel, David experienced moments of deep isolation and suffering. Here in Psalm 25:16, he pleads for God’s merciful attention, revealing his vulnerability as he confesses his loneliness and burdens before the LORD. In doing so, David models humility and trust, seeking divine help rather than relying on royal power or personal strength.
The invitation, “Turn to me and be gracious to me,” underlines the relational closeness David desires with God. The term “turn” suggests God’s face turned toward him, a symbol of acceptance, care, and love. David’s wording implies he believes God alone can lift him from a place of affliction. This dependence resonates through the New Testament as well, where Jesus comforts the weary and promises rest to the burdened (Matthew 11:28-29). Like David, believers of all eras can approach God with confidence that He hears and responds in kindness to their pleas for grace.
“For I am lonely and afflicted” captures the pain of feeling abandoned or overlooked when trials come. David, though king, experienced betrayal and heartache in exile or conflict. Yet from such seasons, he insightfully learned that God’s presence remained unchanging and His covenant love unwavering. In the same way, Jesus assures us that even in tribulation, He has overcome the world (John 16:33). This verse thus proclaims a powerful unity of hope: human loneliness meets divine compassion, and affliction meets divine grace.
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Psalms 25:16 meaning
“Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted.” (v.16) These heartfelt words come from a psalm attributed to David, the shepherd-king of Israel who reigned from around 1010-970 BC in Jerusalem. Though famed for his military victories and for uniting the tribes of Israel, David experienced moments of deep isolation and suffering. Here in Psalm 25:16, he pleads for God’s merciful attention, revealing his vulnerability as he confesses his loneliness and burdens before the LORD. In doing so, David models humility and trust, seeking divine help rather than relying on royal power or personal strength.
The invitation, “Turn to me and be gracious to me,” underlines the relational closeness David desires with God. The term “turn” suggests God’s face turned toward him, a symbol of acceptance, care, and love. David’s wording implies he believes God alone can lift him from a place of affliction. This dependence resonates through the New Testament as well, where Jesus comforts the weary and promises rest to the burdened (Matthew 11:28-29). Like David, believers of all eras can approach God with confidence that He hears and responds in kindness to their pleas for grace.
“For I am lonely and afflicted” captures the pain of feeling abandoned or overlooked when trials come. David, though king, experienced betrayal and heartache in exile or conflict. Yet from such seasons, he insightfully learned that God’s presence remained unchanging and His covenant love unwavering. In the same way, Jesus assures us that even in tribulation, He has overcome the world (John 16:33). This verse thus proclaims a powerful unity of hope: human loneliness meets divine compassion, and affliction meets divine grace.