Words And Meditation.

WORDS AND MEDITATION.

Psalm 5:1-8.

PSALM 5:1. David longs for a hearing from the LORD: “Give ear to my words, O LORD” (cf. Psalm 54:2; Psalm 55:1). Then he adds, “consider my meditation.” We see the same combination of words and meditation in the well-known quotation from Psalm 19:14. If we offer our prayers through our Lord Jesus Christ and His great sacrifice, then surely the LORD will accept them.

PSALM 5:2. “Hearken unto the voice of my cry,” continues the Psalmist (cf. Psalm 17:1). The LORD heard the cry of the children of Israel when they were in bondage (cf. Exodus 3:7), and responded to their need. Our loving Father hears our cries also; and we are summoned to a place where there shall be ‘no more… voice of weeping’ nor ‘the voice of crying’ (cf. Isaiah 65:19).

David recognises the LORD as “my King, and my God.” This is the first time that the expression “my King” appears in the Book of Psalms, and this time it comes from the pen of King David (but cf. Psalm 44:4). The LORD is our God too: the only true and living God, who answers the prayers of His people.

PSALM 5:3. Arising from his meditations, the Psalmist determines to “look up” and make his prayer known to God. The idea is of laying out our prayers in order - and looking out for an answer! Jesus, incidentally, also favoured a morning prayer time (cf. Mark 1:35).

PSALM 5:4. The LORD abhors evil and wickedness.

PSALM 5:5. The LORD will not tolerate the folly of sin in His presence. He looks upon “all workers of iniquity” with perfect hatred! Jesus gives voice to the same abhorrence (cf. Matthew 7:23).

PSALM 5:6. As well as all workers of evil, He shall “destroy” those who “speak” evil. In keeping with Psalm 1:6 and Psalm 2:12, this means that they shall 'perish’ (cf. Matthew 25:41).

PSALM 5:7. It is not arrogant or boastful in this context for the Psalmist to say, “But as for me, I will come into thy house.” We might say, ‘but as for me, I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ’ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21).

For David, the ground of this boldness is “in the multitude of thy MERCY.” This is the first occurrence in the Book of Psalms of the Hebrew word, ‘hesed’ = ‘covenant mercy’ or ‘steadfast love’ (cf. Psalm 23:6). The appropriate response to this grace is “worship.”

PSALM 5:8. “Lead me, O LORD in thy righteousness.” This is a position of trust: a child feels secure when his father takes his hand. God is our Father, to whom we pray, ‘lead us not into temptation (or hard testing).’

Lead me in “thy” righteousness - not my own - even when I am in the midst of enemies (cf. Psalm 27:11). Make “THY way” - not my own - “straight before my face.” The Hebrew word translated “straight” comes from a root meaning ‘straight, honest, firm, right’ (cf. Proverbs 3:5-6).