“Turn Yourself to me and be gracious to me, for I am desolate [lonely, alone] and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged; bring me out of my distresses!” (Psalm 25:16-17).
David’s troubles come from within and without. Inside, he is conscious of his many and great sins (7, 18). Outside, many hateful enemies seek his life. Worst of all, he is utterly alone, with no one to help him.
Like all the psalms, this one points to Christ.
Deadly enemies stalked Jesus at every time and place. In the end, they had him tortured and killed. His friends deserted him. On the cross, he felt that even his Father had forsaken him (Psalm 22:1).
Unlike David, of course, Jesus had no sin. But he bore the sins of his people, taking them upon himself and absorbing all the righteous wrath of God, to redeem us from all our troubles, now and forever (verse 22; Isaiah 53:4-6; John 1:19; and 1 Peter 2:4; 3:18).
Therefore, when we feel lonely and afflicted, burdened by our sins and oppressed by many afflictions, we can be sure that our Lord knows how we feel, from the inside. He is with us and will strengthen us and will finally deliver us from all our troubles.