A Study of Psalm 5 and 6
Psalm 5-6
Introduction
- Psalms broken into 5 books, covered an extensive time period
- Gathered together as songs of praise & words of encouragement/warning
- We are studying book 1, Psalm 1-41 … then will move to something else
- There are psalms of wisdom, royal psalms, lament psalms, & thanksgiving
- There are also psalms of pilgrimage and enthronement (majesty of God) psalms
- If we determine to apply ourselves, this could be a life changing study
- We are in a tough time for our church; believe that God is still at work
- I want us, as a church, to ask and see if we can’t rejoice more
- We ought to be able to praise, and prayerfully you will want more daily
- Read Psalm 5-6 / Pray
Point 1 – Psalm 5 (Being used by God)
- Once again, we see two Psalms written by David for our learning
-- Psalm 5 is written to reflect someone used by God for His purposes
-- It is a Psalm of lament; but focus: A psalm of prayer and petition
David’s Beginning
• Consider my sighing (1); lament – hear even my sighs to you
• Listen to my crying (2); my heart is burdened, please Lord, hear me
• Hear my plea to you in the morning (3); great example of devotion time
- David is devoted to God, and his focus is solely God-directed (not himself)
David’s Declaration
• God rejects the wicked (4); lesson: God pays attention to our actions
• God refuses the arrogant (5); lesson: our ego does not impress God
• God resists the deceitful (6); lesson: the truth is always our best stance
- Curious that these comes from David; shows how his life has been changed!
- Consider: David and his issues … now teaching us standard life principles
David’s Dedication
• I will fear God (7); David confesses sin so he can approach God now
- APP: Consider … when we ask for forgiveness, it is freely offered to us
-- We are able to come to God as well; and our fear (respect) is properly placed
• I will follow God (8); David asks for God to direct him; even steps
- APP: This is critical for us … do we allow God to lead or are we leading?
-- Confession: Most of us want to control everything that happens …
David’s Criticism
• My enemies are godless (9); David is able to see though the noise
- His heart is not fooled by men’s words; especially those who are godless
-- Everything they speak is wicked, and David cries to the Lord for his grace
-- APP: David’s words challenge us … “Who do we listen too?”
• My enemies are guilty (10); this is righteous/holy indignation
-- Re: Absalom has removed him; his plea is for God to judge them rightly
-- APP: This is not “kill them God” … but, “let guilt be proven in your eyes”
David’s Celebration
• Let the godly resound (11); This is a call to us: CELEBRATE GOD!
• Let the godly rejoice (12); We are protected, we ought to celebrate!
- Even in our challenges, we ought to be able to rejoice at who God is
-- Of those who supported David, he is asking that God would protect them
-- “Spread out your protection”; APP: In this, they would be able to REJOICE
- HUGE: What we worship is what we rejoice about … do we worship God?
Point 2 – Psalm 6 (Be holy, because God is holy)
- God calls us to be holy – proclaimed all over His word (OT and NT)
-- Psalm of encouragement for us – Command is: “Be holy, because I am holy”
-- So, what happens when believers fall into sin? David discusses this in Psa. 6
1st section: The problem of unconfessed sin
Loss of divine pleasure
• Do not rebuke me in anger (1a); David knew he had fallen into sin, plea
• Do not discipline me in wrath (1b); His fear is that God would discipline
- IMP: God will discipline all for sin; sometimes in ways we do not expect
Loss of physical strength
• Restore my strength (2); His energy was low, had no want to continue
• Heal my bones (2); David prays for specific healing; restore him to function
Loss of emotional peace
• My soul is anguished (3); IMP: His conflict with God was burdening him
• My soul is impatient (3); Conscience is a powerful thing; he knew it
- We too ought to know right from wrong; conscience is a great indicator for us
-- APP: When we have sin, unconfessed sin, we ought to be bothered by it
-- David’s plea here is to be restored, his soul is impatient with his actions (exp.)
Loss of spiritual intimacy
• Turn to me (4); David feels that God has turned away from him
• Save me (4); Desires that God would save him; restore him to be righteous
- CRITICAL: When we sin, we draw away from God – this is how it ought to look
Loss of physical life
• Deliver me from death (5); he understands that his sin would lead to death
• Deliver me from the grave (5); asks God to specifically deliver him
- APP: Sometimes we need to be this honest with God … ask Him to deliver you!
Loss of physical sleep
• I groan at night (6); sleeplessness invades his life over his own sin
• I grow weary (7); so much so, he has become weary in function
- Sin will always have devastating effects on us; esp. the more we fall away
-- WARNING of being far away from God: Sin does not bother you anymore
2nd section: The power of confessing sin
Confidence towards me (8)
- David is able to speak words to those against him to get away from him
-- His pleading to God has charged his heart; restored him; he’s able to stand firm
-- APP: Great lesson for us today … spending time with God restores us!
Confidence towards God
• The Lord accepts my prayer (9); David is able to proclaim God hears him
• The Lord attacks my enemies (10); His renewed faith allows this to be said
- Critical: Spending time with God restores your energy to face the enemy!
Big Idea – We are called to be servants of a righteous God
- These two Psalms give us two different perspectives to learn from:
- Psa. 5: What/who we worship is what we rejoice about … do we worship God?
- Psa. 6: For us, there is nothing more powerful or restorative than confession
- God calls us into a life of obedience to Him; it’s a lifelong challenge
- Examining these two Psalms, we really have two choices:
-- Call on God or try to continue doing this ourselves
- David was a man who tried it both ways … perhaps we can learn from this?
- Pray
