Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Psalms 5 is a powerful prayer, deeply rooted in David's personal struggles and his unwavering faith in God's justice. Like Psalms 3 and 4, it likely originates from the tumultuous period when David was fleeing from his son Absalom's rebellion (see 2 Samuel 15—18). This psalm beautifully blends a plea for divine intervention with a declaration of God's holiness and a confident expectation of His favor. It is also classified as one of the "imprecatory psalms," characterized by its call for God to judge the wicked. Psalms 5 offers profound insights into prayer, righteousness, and the believer's reliance on God amidst adversity.
A King's Cry for Attention (Psalms 5:1-3)
David begins by earnestly appealing to the Lord, urging Him to consider his "sighing" and attend to his "cry" (Psalms 5:1-2). He doesn't just offer a casual prayer; he pours out his heart, recognizing his dependence on God, the true sovereign King over all, even as he himself reigns as king over Israel (Psalms 5:2). David's example teaches us the importance of approaching God with sincerity and humility, acknowledging our need for His guidance and intervention.
Notice the timing: David makes his plea "early in the morning" (Psalms 5:3). He doesn't delay; he prioritizes seeking God's face at the start of his day. This highlights the urgency of prayer, especially when facing difficult circumstances. The more dangerous and desperate the situation, the more crucial it is to begin each day seeking God’s intervention and watching expectantly for Him to answer. This consistent seeking shapes our perspective and empowers us to face the day with faith and courage.
God's Holiness and Hatred of Evil (Psalms 5:4-6)
David then shifts his focus to the very nature of God, emphasizing His absolute holiness. He declares that God is completely separate from wickedness and evil (Psalms 5:4). God is not indifferent to sin; He is fundamentally opposed to it, regardless of its form. Therefore, He opposes all evildoers (Psalms 5:5). This understanding of God's character provides a foundation for David's confidence. He knows that God's judgment will ultimately fall on those who are violent and treacherous (Psalms 5:6).
David extols God’s separateness from evil and His hatred of sin because he wants to appeal to God’s righteousness to act on his behalf. We, too, can draw strength from this truth, knowing that God's righteousness is a guarantee of His justice.
Entering God's Presence Through Faithful Love (Psalms 5:7)
Turning from the wickedness of his enemies, David praises God for His "unfailing love" (Psalms 5:7). The Hebrew word here, hesed, speaks of God's loyal affection for those under His covenant. It is because of this steadfast love that David is able to enter the Lord's presence to worship Him.
David recognizes the unique calling of God on his life and the mission he’d been given. The Lord had promised to give David a royal dynasty, through which the Messiah would come and reign forever (see 2 Samuel 7:11-16). God’s covenantal loyalty drove David to worship. We, too, can approach God with confidence, knowing that His love is the foundation of our relationship with Him.
Seeking Guidance and Exposing Deceit (Psalms 5:8-10)
Faced with adversaries, David recognizes his need for divine guidance to do what is right (Psalms 5:8). Righteousness is found in God alone; therefore, he asks God to lead him so that he can operate in sync with what God views as right. He contrasts this with the unrighteousness of his foes, describing their throats as "an open grave," their words full of deceit and murderous intent (Psalms 5:9). There was nothing reliable in what they said.
He then calls on God to punish them because their rebellion against him was, ultimately, against God. David also prays that their own schemes would be used against them (Psalms 5:10). Just as God would reverse the actions of Haman against God’s people and cause his wicked plot to fall on his own head (see Esther 3–8), David asks that the plots of his enemies would cause their own downfall because they were actually scheming against God. This is a powerful reminder that true justice belongs to God, and He will ultimately hold all accountable for their actions.
Joy and Protection for the Righteous (Psalms 5:11-12)
David concludes with a declaration of confidence in God's protection and blessing for those who trust in Him (Psalms 5:11-12). He urges God’s people to boast about Him and to shout for joy as a way of expressing recognition of who God is, what He has done, and what He can be trusted to do (Psalms 5:11). He knows that those who experience God's favor will be surrounded by God like a shield (Psalms 5:12). There is no safer place to be. This closing affirmation offers hope and encouragement, reminding us that God's favor is a powerful defense against the trials of life.
Psalms 5 teaches us to approach God with honesty and urgency, trusting in His holiness and seeking His guidance. It reminds us that God opposes evil and protects those who seek refuge in Him. May this psalm inspire us to cultivate a life of prayer, righteousness, and unwavering faith in the God who is our shield and our salvation.
Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Psalms 5 is a powerful prayer, deeply rooted in David's personal struggles and his unwavering faith in God's justice. Like Psalms 3 and 4, it likely originates from the tumultuous period when David was fleeing from his son Absalom's rebellion (see 2 Samuel 15—18). This psalm beautifully blends a plea for divine intervention with a declaration of God's holiness and a confident expectation of His favor. It is also classified as one of the "imprecatory psalms," characterized by its call for God to judge the wicked. Psalms 5 offers profound insights into prayer, righteousness, and the believer's reliance on God amidst adversity.
A King's Cry for Attention (Psalms 5:1-3)
David begins by earnestly appealing to the Lord, urging Him to consider his "sighing" and attend to his "cry" (Psalms 5:1-2). He doesn't just offer a casual prayer; he pours out his heart, recognizing his dependence on God, the true sovereign King over all, even as he himself reigns as king over Israel (Psalms 5:2). David's example teaches us the importance of approaching God with sincerity and humility, acknowledging our need for His guidance and intervention.
Notice the timing: David makes his plea "early in the morning" (Psalms 5:3). He doesn't delay; he prioritizes seeking God's face at the start of his day. This highlights the urgency of prayer, especially when facing difficult circumstances. The more dangerous and desperate the situation, the more crucial it is to begin each day seeking God’s intervention and watching expectantly for Him to answer. This consistent seeking shapes our perspective and empowers us to face the day with faith and courage.
God's Holiness and Hatred of Evil (Psalms 5:4-6)
David then shifts his focus to the very nature of God, emphasizing His absolute holiness. He declares that God is completely separate from wickedness and evil (Psalms 5:4). God is not indifferent to sin; He is fundamentally opposed to it, regardless of its form. Therefore, He opposes all evildoers (Psalms 5:5). This understanding of God's character provides a foundation for David's confidence. He knows that God's judgment will ultimately fall on those who are violent and treacherous (Psalms 5:6).
David extols God’s separateness from evil and His hatred of sin because he wants to appeal to God’s righteousness to act on his behalf. We, too, can draw strength from this truth, knowing that God's righteousness is a guarantee of His justice.
Entering God's Presence Through Faithful Love (Psalms 5:7)
Turning from the wickedness of his enemies, David praises God for His "unfailing love" (Psalms 5:7). The Hebrew word here, hesed, speaks of God's loyal affection for those under His covenant. It is because of this steadfast love that David is able to enter the Lord's presence to worship Him.
David recognizes the unique calling of God on his life and the mission he’d been given. The Lord had promised to give David a royal dynasty, through which the Messiah would come and reign forever (see 2 Samuel 7:11-16). God’s covenantal loyalty drove David to worship. We, too, can approach God with confidence, knowing that His love is the foundation of our relationship with Him.
Seeking Guidance and Exposing Deceit (Psalms 5:8-10)
Faced with adversaries, David recognizes his need for divine guidance to do what is right (Psalms 5:8). Righteousness is found in God alone; therefore, he asks God to lead him so that he can operate in sync with what God views as right. He contrasts this with the unrighteousness of his foes, describing their throats as "an open grave," their words full of deceit and murderous intent (Psalms 5:9). There was nothing reliable in what they said.
He then calls on God to punish them because their rebellion against him was, ultimately, against God. David also prays that their own schemes would be used against them (Psalms 5:10). Just as God would reverse the actions of Haman against God’s people and cause his wicked plot to fall on his own head (see Esther 3–8), David asks that the plots of his enemies would cause their own downfall because they were actually scheming against God. This is a powerful reminder that true justice belongs to God, and He will ultimately hold all accountable for their actions.
Joy and Protection for the Righteous (Psalms 5:11-12)
David concludes with a declaration of confidence in God's protection and blessing for those who trust in Him (Psalms 5:11-12). He urges God’s people to boast about Him and to shout for joy as a way of expressing recognition of who God is, what He has done, and what He can be trusted to do (Psalms 5:11). He knows that those who experience God's favor will be surrounded by God like a shield (Psalms 5:12). There is no safer place to be. This closing affirmation offers hope and encouragement, reminding us that God's favor is a powerful defense against the trials of life.
Psalms 5 teaches us to approach God with honesty and urgency, trusting in His holiness and seeking His guidance. It reminds us that God opposes evil and protects those who seek refuge in Him. May this psalm inspire us to cultivate a life of prayer, righteousness, and unwavering faith in the God who is our shield and our salvation.