Peace & Blessings Beloved,
TGBTG for allowing us to see another day. I pray all is well with you and yours, and that your week has been fruitful & blessed thus far.
Last week we reviewed Psalm 4. Today, we're going to study Psalm 5.
With that in mind, let's get to it.
Psalm 5
Lead Me in Your Righteousness
To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.
5 Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. 2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. 3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you[a] and watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. 6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. 12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Chapter Summary:
vs. 1-3 An introductory invocation of God
vs. 4-7 Reasons for the David's confidence in prayer
vs. 8-9 Petition for his own person, with reasons
vs. 10 Petition with respect to his opponents
vs. 11-12 Closing statement respecting the consequences of such a prayer being heard
Synopsis:
David enjoys prayer; he also understands the utter importance of prayer. As such, he prayed that God would guide him, and for all God's people, that He would give them joy, and keep them safe.
God is always ready and eager to hear our prayers. The most encouraging principle of prayer, and the most powerful plea in prayer, is, to look upon Him as our King and our God. David also understands that the God he prays to hates sin; He sees it as folly, and its perpetrators as fools.
David also understands that wicked people hate God. He also realizes that, unfortunately, both their hate & wickedness will result in endless misery and ruin for them.
Key Takeaways:
We should learn to pray, not for ourselves only, but for others, with the grace and love of Christ in sincerity.
When we are surrounded by ungodly enemies, whether of great power, guile, or otherwise, we ought to pray for Divine guidance, blessing, and protection. We can also pray for God's justice for their wickedness, which is at direct odds with the righteousness of God.
We should have unshakeable confidence in the holiness of God, and its power to lead, guide, and superintend our lives.
We should recognize God as King over our lives, both as individual believers, as well as the unified body of Christ.
We should pursue righteousness daily, and recognize that it can only be found in God.
Liars, murderers, and otherwise wicked people resemble the devil, and are his children. God abhors them, and just as they were David's enemies then, they're our enemies today.
Conclusion:
Let us learn the importance of truth, sincerity, & righteousness, in all the affairs of life. And let us pray faithfully, and selflessly, trusting God to be righteous, merciful, gracious, and immutable in His character, love, judgement, and wrath.
May we establish, nurture, and grow a sincere love for the word of God, and study it lovingly & faithfully.
I pray you receive this with the love intended, and apply it to wisdom.
Love you much.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Blessed!
-Humble Servant
P.S- If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, I implore you to take the time to do so right now. Use John 3:16 & Romans 10:9-10 as a foundation for making your confession of faith. And use Ephesians 2:1-10 to provide proper context for your salvation.
P.S #2- In my study of this Psalm, I came across a commentary which I believe can be read in its original form, without any exposition, synopsis,or analysis from me, as it effectively sums up the psalm. I believe it to be a great supplement to what we covered above.
DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL
1. He who sides with God, must be prepared as well for hostility and persecution on the part of the ungodly, as he is assured of protection on the part of the Almighty; but he must also hold fast to his communion with God, and cultivate it by prayer and Divine service, and show its power by walking in the ways of righteousness.
2. Walking in the way of righteousness has its difficulties, restraints and dangers; but God makes the way level for those who fear Him; God leads those who are devoted to Him upon it; God protects in it those who trust in Him.
3. To be reminded of the nature and Providence of God is a terror to the wicked, but a consolation to the pious; for the former are condemned, the latter saved thereby: therefore, also, the former feel that they are frightened away from the place where God reveals Himself a»d is worshipped; the latter, on the other hand, are drawn to this place; and whilst the latter render prayer, praise and thanksgiving’; the former commit grievous sins with their tongue without shame or repentance. The frightful extent of natural corruption, since the fall of Adam, appears everywhere in essentially the same characteristics, hence the use made of this Psalm, in Romans 3:11 sq.
4. If those who blame us are to be declared liars, those who complain of us, slanderers, those who persecute us at the same time fools and evil-doers, and if our adversaries in general are the enemies of God, then we ourselves must be found in the closest communion with God and therefore we must diligently and faithfully make use of all the means of His grace.
Source: Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical