Psalm 5 “A Prayer for Guidance”

“Truth for Truckers” *February 5, 2014*  Psalm 5  “A Prayer for Guidance”

       ‘My voice shall Thou hear in the morning, O Lord, in the morning, will I make my prayer unto Thee and will look up.’(v.3).  This pledge of David is one we as children of God must take seriously as a pledge of our own, for it is the promise to the Lord of first things first, communion with Him must be our priority in the beginning of our day at all costs.

     If we are to survive spiritually, and stay in the battle for souls, we must be in constant contact with the Savior. Abiding in Him as we are commanded in John 15 begins with a time of prayer, a time of organizing our day with the priority of doing the will of God. And, there is no better way to accomplish this but to receive first hand, by intimate fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, first thing, His priorities as we abide in Him throughout the day.

     While this verse sets the theme for the Psalm, the preceding verses reveal the intensity with which David approached the LORD: ‘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.’ (v.1, 2) His earnest desire for audience with the King of heaven is shown by the three bold imperative requests that are given : ‘Give ear’ emphasizes his desire for God to listen, giving attention to David’s words as he earnestly prays and seeks the LORD’s face.

     ‘Consider my meditation’ focuses on the fact of David’s desire for the LORD to recognize the condition of his soul as he has already directed his entire being toward the LORD by his own consideration, thinking, and musing upon ‘Things above’ where he obviously has set his affections. ‘Hearken unto the voice of my cry’ underlines the desire David has for the LORD to take decisive and immediate action concerning his unfolding needs of this day, knowing ahead of time that he will be facing the enemy head on.

     Then, in (v.3), he makes the statement which is the theme verse as mentioned above, which emphasizes his daily discipline and his complete focus on the LORD as he directs his plea both spiritually and physically toward the LORD’s heavenly abode. He lays the groundwork for his request in (v.10) by describing God’s Alienation from the Wicked in (v.4-6): ‘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 hates all workers of iniquity. Thou shall destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.’

     In these short but direct statements David confirms God’s attitude against the wicked, the foolish, the workers of iniquity and deceivers. In (v.9) he describes their actions: ‘For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their mouth.’ This brief list focuses primarily upon what comes out of their mouth, but it also points to the source of their speech: ‘their inward part is very wickedness’ teaching clearly that the ‘heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked’ (Jeremiah 17:9).

     The cure for this corrupt condition is the grace of God which supplies the faith for men to be born-again and receive a new heart. ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not or yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.’ (Ephesians 2:8, 9) However, in this Psalm, David calls for God’s action against his enemies which is based upon their previous action of rebellion: ‘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.(v.10).

     He puts their destiny in God’s hands who knows the end from the beginning. But, his request for their destruction through their own devices also refers to the numerous times they have rebelled, and that rebellion is not just directed against King David, but against God Himself! In the midst of David’s appeal to the LORD concerning the wicked, he makes one of his favorite statements contrasting his actions with the actions of the wicked: ‘But, as for me...’ which immediately turns the attention from his enemies and their ungodly actions, to the promises David makes to his LORD: ‘I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple.’

     He fully recognizes and gives credence to the working of God’s abundant mercy knowing also that a healthy reverential fear of God is the attitude required for experiencing His presence as he humbly worships his LORD. Now, having entered into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus, he makes this earnest appeal: ‘Lead me O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face.’(v.8) David’s Appeal for Guidance emphasizes the righteousness of God which he knows must supply the guidelines for his direction because the LORD never leads apart from the righteous principles found in His Word.

     The emphasis David uses here in the second part of his appeal is the physical application of the spiritual truth given in the first part of his request. He wants his marching orders to be obvious, regulated by God’s righteousness with ‘straight’ and clear direction. These principles always characterize the guidance of the God. ‘I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shall go, I will guide thee with Mine eye.’ (Psalm 32:8) This is the promise of God to those who earnestly seek to do His will...there will be no doubt when God is doing the directing!

     ‘Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God, Thy Spirit is good, lead me into the land of uprightness.’(Psalm 143:10) This prayer emphasizes three things: The instruction or teaching of God, the Spirit’s goodness and uprightness or the righteousness principles found in the Word of God. God’s leading by His Spirit will always be regulated by His Word!

     He will direct according to His Word, and He will give peace by His Spirit. When these two elements are present it is time to act! Circumstances will not always agree because the devil can and will do his best to confuse us by ‘throwing up dust storms of confusion and clamor’ if and when our eye is focused only upon our circumstances. But, he cannot meddle with the truth of the Word of God and the peace of God which passes all understanding!

     David, here, recognizes the presence of his enemies and makes these definite and distinct requests in view of the fact that the enemy will do his best to deceive and divert him from doing the will of God. However, the conclusion of the matter is revealed in (v.11, 12) ‘But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defends them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee. For Thou, LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor will Thou compass him as with a shield.’

     The faithful, those who are full of faith, will have great joy, mightily expressing their victory because the LORD did exactly what He said He would do! He protected, guarded and guided His own and their love for Him brings blessing and favor which surrounds them ‘as with a shield’ And, just as He promised Abraham of old: ‘I am thy Shield and thy Exceeding Great Reward’. (Genesis 15:1) His protection and blessing come in the name of Jesus, He is our Shield, He is our all, for in Him we receive all eternal spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1-3) and the temporal blessing of the knowledge of His presence, for He said: ‘ I will never leave thee nor forsake thee’ (Hebrews 13:5)

Chaplain L.E.Wolfe  www.btmi.org   I-85 Exit 35 SC  McPilot   Stop in, and please pray for our ministry!