Introduction:
Good morning.
I want to start with a simple question: How do you navigate life’s storms? How do you stay on course when the path is unclear, when the heat is intense, and when the pressures of life threaten to overwhelm you?
Psalm 5 gives us a window into that kind of navigation. David, writing to God in the morning, is facing not just external enemies—political, social, or personal—but also inner trials: worry, fear, anxiety. And he does something beautiful: he prays. He casts himself on God.
Psalm 5 is a morning prayer, a royal lament, part of Book I of the Psalter, where the emphasis is on walking in God’s ways and seeking His protection in a world filled with the ways of the wicked. It’s a reminder that faith isn’t abstract. Faith is practical, and it is meant to guide us, protect us, and sustain us through the challenges of life.
Before we dive into the verses, I want to give you three illustrations that will guide us through the Psalm:
1. The Junk Drawer – You know that drawer at home—the one where we throw things that don’t seem to have a place. Over time, we forget what’s in it, and yet, when we need something, it’s always there. Faith is like that. It’s there, sometimes forgotten, but ready to help us walk through life’s trials.
2. Shuttle Tiles – The heat tiles on a space shuttle prevent it from burning up during re-entry. Faith works in the same way: it doesn’t avoid the heat, but it protects us while we face it.
3. Mission Control – The Apollo 11 astronauts couldn’t make tiny course corrections on their own; they relied on mission control. Faith is similar: it doesn’t go its own way—it follows God’s guidance, minute by minute.
With those in mind, let’s walk through Psalm 5.
Verses 1–2: The Call to Prayer
"Give ear to my words, Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I present my requests to You and watch expectantly."
David begins with a simple act: he prays. He cries out. He expects God to hear him.
Faith begins with communication. It begins with prayer. And here’s the thing—sometimes our faith feels forgotten, like that junk drawer. We haven’t “used” it in a while. But the moment we open it, there it is: our trust in God. Prayer taps into it.
Notice the repeated emphasis on morning. David rises early to meet with God. Jesus modeled this, too. Luke 5:16 tells us that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray. Faith is deliberate; it requires time. It’s not a casual hope—it’s active reliance.
Verses 4–6: Recognizing God’s Holiness
"For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil dwells with You. The boastful cannot stand in Your presence. You hate all who do evil; You destroy those who tell lies."
Here, David pauses to consider God’s character. God is holy. He is not passive. He is just. He protects the faithful and punishes the wicked.
Think about those shuttle tiles for a moment. A shuttle re-entering the atmosphere faces heat so intense it could melt metal. The tiles don’t avoid the heat—they protect the shuttle from it. Faith works the same way: it doesn’t avoid life’s fiery trials, but it shields us as we walk through them.
Scripture calls these trials “fiery testing.” 1 Peter 1:7 tells us that the genuineness of faith is tested by fire. Faith is not a cozy feeling—it is a shield and a resource, like those tiles, built for protection.
Verse 7: Entering God’s Presence
"But I, through the abundance of Your faithful love, enter Your house; I bow down toward Your holy temple in awe of You."
Faith doesn’t just protect—it opens the way to God. David bows, he enters God’s presence. Reverence and trust go hand in hand.
This is where our mission control metaphor comes in. Just as astronauts rely on ground control to guide them through danger, faith allows God to guide us. We don’t navigate on our own instincts—we follow God’s course.
Verse 8: Guidance in Righteousness
"Lead me, Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me."
Faith is directional. It’s not passive. It follows God, making adjustments as He leads.
Apollo 11 made tiny course corrections, often so small you wouldn’t notice—but each was crucial. Our faith is the same. God guides us through life, nudging us along the right path. Our job is to pay attention, to follow, to trust.
Verses 9–10: The Reality of Opposition
"For there is no faithfulness in their mouths; their hearts are filled with malice. Their throats are open graves; they use their tongues to deceive. Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own counsels."
Life is real. People oppose us. Sometimes we face betrayal, lies, or injustice. Faith doesn’t ignore these realities. It calls on God to act.
We are not naive. We recognize danger—but we also recognize that God is our shield. Faith relies on His justice, not our own.
Verses 11–12: Refuge, Joy, and Favor
"But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. Spread Your protection over them, so that those who love Your name may exult in You. For You bless the righteous, Lord; You surround them with favor as with a shield."
Faith brings joy. Faith brings refuge. Faith brings favor. God’s protection surrounds those who love Him, just as mission control ensures the astronauts stay on course and safe.
Romans 5:1–5 echoes this: suffering produces endurance; endurance produces character; character produces hope—and hope does not disappoint. Faith is active in trials, and God’s favor is the shield that sustains us.
Conclusion:
Psalm 5 takes us from crying out in the morning, through recognition of God’s holiness, to receiving guidance, protection, and joy.
Faith is not a junk drawer we forget—it is practical. It is not passive—it works in trials, like shuttle tiles. And it is not aimless—it follows God, like a spacecraft guided by mission control.
So this week, I want to encourage you:
1. Start each day with prayer. Open your “faith drawer.”
2. Trust God through trials. Remember, the fire does not destroy those He protects.
3. Follow God’s guidance, paying attention to His course corrections, minute by minute.
Faith is not abstract. Faith is active. Faith guides. Faith protects. Faith sustains. And through it, God’s joy and favor surround us like a shield.
Let’s pray.
