Psalm 25 begins "a group of nine psalms [ending with Psalm 33] containing an unusual (even for the Psalter) concentration of pleas for 'mercy' (Psalm 25:16; Psalm 26:11; Psalm 27:7; Psalm 28:2; Psalm 30:8-10; Psalm 31:9) accompanied by professions of 'trust' (Psalm 25:2; Psalm 26:1; Psalm 27:3; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 31:6, Psalm 31:14; Psalm 32:10; Psalm 33:21) and appeals to or celebrations of Yahweh's '(unfailing) love' (Psalm 25:6-7, Psalm 25:10; Psalm 26:3; Psalm 31:7, Psalm 31:16, Psalm 31:21; Psalm 32:10; Psalm 33:5, Psalm 33:18, Psalm 33:22). The series begins with an alphabetic acrostic prayer for God's saving help (Ps 25) and culminates in a 22-verse (the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet) hymn of praise for Yahweh's sovereign rule and saving help (Ps 33)" (Zondervan NIV Study Bible, note on Psalms 25-33).

Structurally, Psalm 25 itself "is an alphabetic acrostic (somewhat irregular, with an additional, concluding verse that extends the lines beyond the alphabet). It is composed of four unequal stanzas (of three, four, eight and six verses). The first and fourth stanzas are thematically related, as are the second and third (an a-b/b-a pattern)" (note on Psalm 25).

"David prays for God's covenant mercies when suffering affliction for sins [verses 11, 18] and when enemies seize the occasion to attack [verses 2, 19], perhaps by trying to discredit the king through false accusations" (same note). This is a theme we have seen before. The prospect of experiencing shame from an enemy triumph concerns David greatly—he mentions "shame" four times in the psalm. Shame should not befall those who hope and trust in God but should fall instead on people who decide to "deal treacherously without a cause" (verse 3). "Shame is the intended end of the enemies of God (Psalm 35:26)...not of the faithful" (Nelson Study Bible, note on verses 1-2).

David declares that because God is good and upright, He teaches sinners in His way (verse 8). But this is not so they can continue to live in sinful defiance of Him. Rather, He works with those who are humble and obedient (verses 9, 12). He will teach them a way of life characterized by justice, mercy, truth and prosperity (verses 8-10, 13). As Ezra 8:22 tells us, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him."

In summarizing his afflictions and troubles, David reminds God that his foes are cruel and he needs deliverance (verses 17-20). He concludes the psalm with a respectful declaration of hope, the same hope with which he began: "I wait for you" (verse 21; compare verse 3).

Even in this prayer for mercy and help for himself personally, David is not forgetful of others. In verse 22, which is outside the acrostic pattern of the psalm, he concludes with an intercessory prayer for his people. "David petitions the Lord to be compassionate with the nation Israel just as he has been with David. The Lord was not only the personal Savior of David, but also the Savior of all the Israelites" (Nelson, note on verse 22). Here, as in other references to Israel in the Psalms, we may look beyond the physical nation to the chosen people of God—ultimately all those who constitute spiritual Israel even if physically from other nations (see Romans 9:6; Galatians 6:16).