Psalms 5
February 11, 2009 by Mike Hernandez
Filed under Scriptures
After reading this passage several times it really makes you think of your own Christianity and the world around us.
In the beginning of this passage, we see David crying out to God for Him to hear his prayers, asking God to heed the sound of his cry for help.
Psalms 5:1-3 NASB For the choir director; for flute accompaniment. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my groaning. (2) Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray. (3) In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
Next David speaks with God through prayer and recognizes that God takes no pleasure in:
- Wickedness
- Boastfulness
- Liars
- men of violence and deceit
Psalms 5:4-6 NASB For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You. (5) The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. (6) You destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
And David clearly understands God wrath against those who speaks falsehoods and realizes that God abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
What I find interesting in verses 4-6 is that it also takes me back to Proverbs 6:16-19
Proverbs 6:16-19 NASB There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: (17) Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, (19) A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
This shows that God has no time for wickedness of any kind, yet we Christian’s in today society look to the liberal side of things and turn a blind eye when it does not tickle our ears.
How can we expect God to help us in troubled times when we are not doing what it right in His sight?
If we act in the ways of the world then how can we even begin to call upon God to help us if we do not cease from worldly actions? We must strive with every waking moment to acknowledge God fully and completely in all that we do even if that means it may not be comfortable for us at times.
Remember what it says in 2 Timothy 3:12.
2 Timothy 3:12 NASB Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
In my opinion, we as Christians can no longer walk the fence. Either we try our very best to walk righteously in all that we do, or we simply refuse and don’t. It is really that simple.
If the answer is not, then I ask, are we Christians? Only you and God know your heart.
David knew this and he feared God with all his heart.
Psalms 5:7 NASB But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.
David bows down before God in reverence.
Lets look at this word reverence a little closer;
Psalms 5:7 NASB+ But as for me, by Your abundantH7230 lovingkindnessH2617a I will enterH935 Your houseH1004, At Your holyH6944 templeH1964 I will bowH7812 in reverenceH3374 for You.
H3374
ִיְרָאה
yir’āh: A feminine noun meaning fear. The word usually refers to the fear of God and is viewed as a positive quality. This fear acknowledges God’s good intentions.
Notice the Hebrew word being used here for fear.
Remember it says in Proverbs that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.
Proverbs 1:7 NASB The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 NASB+ The fearH3374 of the LORDH3068 is the beginningH7225 of knowledgeH1847; FoolsH191 despiseH936 wisdomH2451 and instructionH4148.
fearH3374
As we observe the word fear here once again, we can see that it is the same word that was used for reverence above [ H3374 ] in Psalms 5:7. This is not the fear of death, or the fear for ones life, but rather a fear of respect, a fear of the LORD, the knowledge of God.
Yet as I continue to read this passage in Psalms, what really capture me are the words in these next few verses.
Psalms 5:8-10 NASB O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me. (9) There is nothing reliable in what they say; Their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; They flatter with their tongue. (10) Hold them guilty, O God; By their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against You.
Only with God can we be lead into righteousness, only with His help can we walk straight, but do we? Or, do we act as those in verse 9 do? Are we men of deceit and lies, men of evil intentions, men of flattery, men that care for no one except ourselves?
I pray to God that He will guide me every day and allow me to do what is just in His eyes and not my own.
Psalms 5:11-12 NASB But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. (12) For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.
Verses 11-12 Amen!
For the righteous in God are blessed…
The questions I ask you, do you take refuge in God?
God bless…
Related Reading:
- The Lord Is Our Strength
- Book of Samuel; David / Saul
- Do you profess Christ?
- Job, A Righteous Man.
- Do you love me?
- I Love the World, Yet I’m a Christian
- Proverbs 24:16 – The Modern Twist
First, I will state the obvious: When I read God’s Word it is like holding a mirror in front of me. I see myself with a clarity that is often uncomfortable but true nonetheless. I have always known I cannot lie to God (and have Him believe me), so I don’t bother. Instead, I try not to lie to myself, which is hard enough but crucial to my self-respect. Only then can I continue in prayer to God and open up with honest pleadings for His helping hands.
Second, I need to reveal to you my struggle as of late. Not because I need to confess anything to anyone but my God for the sake of foregiveness or anything else. No. Simply so that we who have this struggle may know that this struggle is commonly shared.
I have felt the need to be ready to defend my family to whatever ends. And in my pursuits I have been riddled with thoughts of violence, and also misguided energy against Muslims who want to change this country. But how does that coincide with living a live pleasing to God ??? I think of Philipians 4:8 and how polarly opposite my thinking has become. Where is my trust ? Where is my abiding in Him ? The only times His people have righteously killed other peoples in the Old Testament is when God had told them to. God DOES NOT tell me to do such things, however.
[Just mentioning my struggles is enough for my purposes today. I may elaborate on this some other time if the discussion leads me to]
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Ruth
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