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Psalms 25:12 meaning

Being in reverent awe of God opens the heart to divine leading and protects believers from wandering away from God’s best path.

King David, who reigned over Israel around 1010-970 B.C., is traditionally credited with writing Psalm 25. In this verse, he declares, "Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose." (v.12) Through this question and answer, David points to the importance of reverence toward God, asserting that those who honor and respect the LORD receive clear divine direction. By openly asking who possesses a heart that stands in awe of God, David invites each individual to examine their attitude and reminds them that the Creator Himself promises to guide those who humbly recognize His power and authority.

When David speaks of fearing the LORD, he calls upon the foundational scriptural principle that reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Such humble deference lays the groundwork for a life shaped by the LORD’s counsel and help. True fear of God brings about a nearness to Him, positioning believers to hear the Holy Spirit’s guidance, a concept later emphasized in the New Testament through Jesus’s teachings (John 14:26). In this way, the man or woman who acknowledges God’s sovereignty can trust Him to offer meaningful instructions for life’s decisions.

Psalms 25:12