Praying Psalm 5

“Come, Lord Jesus!”            

What is the title of this Psalm 5? 

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

READ Bonhoeffer, Psalms; the Prayer Book of the Bible, “Congregational Worship and the Psalms”

Read Psalm 5:1-3

¹Give ear/listen! to my words, O YHWH; consider/ understand! my groaning.
²Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.
³O YHWH, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare/set in order (a sacrifice) for you and watch (closely & expectantly).

How does David begin to pray?

With confidence – Answer me! Hear me! These are imperatives. He knows God will do these things.

I cry & sacrifice - and I expect you to show up!

Read Psalm 5:4-6

⁴For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
⁵The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
⁶You destroy those who speak lies; YHWH abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

How does God respond to evil?

He hates it. Evil can’t be with God – he is truth and cannot tolerate lies/wickedness.

The Boastful (in themselves) won't stand before God. You can only boast in God...

DESTRUCTION for evil ones. (Hate the sin not the sinner? NOT HERE. Sin is not separate from the person doing it. This is God's justice - it will happen to people.)

**This is a harsh picture of God that we may not be used to talking about. It is very important NOT to make excuses for God's judgement on sin (and SINNERS). This is part of our God! Go with it, there is still good news to come!

Read 5:7-8

⁷But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love (GREAT "CHESED"), I will enter your house. I will bow down/prostrate toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
⁸ Lead me, YHWH, in your righteousness because of my enemies/ evil watchers; make your way straight before me.

How does David approach God?

(1) Focused on YHWH’s Great "CHESED", the Hebrew word for = overflowing mercy/ abounding grace... This is why David can enter God’s house and presence.

(2) David is bowed down, in FEAR. David is sinful, he deserves destruction because of his sin! But David enters God’s house NOT on account of his own action. Fear is a good and proper way to come before God.

(3) "Lead me" - David is before God with great humility. Making "ways straight" reminds us of calls to Repentance (John the Baptist).

Read Psalm 5:9-10

⁹For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰ Make them bear their guilt/declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.

Who are the wicked? What does David pray for them?

They have Wicked WORDS – this is how we know who the evil are. We are not talking mean words, rather Words that speak against God and HIS works.

David prays, "Let them fall!" This is praying for God’s good/righteous/promised judgement.

**READ Bonhoeffer, The Prayer Book of the Psalms, “The Enemies”

This is another realm we don't often hear about in prayer - praying for God's judgement on the evil (it's not pretty)! We are actually praying for God's promise to be fulfilled -  judging evil and vindicating the righteous.

Read Psalm 5:11-12

¹¹But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
¹²For you bless the righteous, YHWH; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Who are the righteous? What does David pray for them?

Righteous = ones who take refuge, ones who love your name = They will sing!, shout! exult!, they are protected.

**LOVE YOUR NAME - Remember the name of God, YHWH, is a verb meaning "I am". He attaches His name to action - "I DID this for you... God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, known by the things I DID for them". Today we also call him by this name of action - Father (I Created) Son (I Redeemed) Holy Spirit (I Preserve). Same God - more of the same old story! Those who love his name trust in the God of history and action.

David's prayer is that they KNOW it  - where their protection comes from.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Describes wicked/evil - God cannot stand it.

Describes David/righteous - Only there because of God's mercy.

Plea for judgment on wicked – Implore God to act.

How did Christ pray this psalm?

Often Christ had harsh words of coming judgement for teachers (those who SPOKE WORDS) against God. Evil has always been repulsive to God - but continues to exist until the final judgment.
Christ front-loaded mercy (payment for evil) but the righteous judgment of God is still to come.
Repentant sinners (followers of Christ) are able to stand in "God's house" because of the atonement made by Jesus.

Mark 12:38-40 (scribes)

Luke 19:41-44 (Jesus weeps over Jerusalem)

John the Baptist… Mathew 23:26-28 (whitewashed tomb)

How can we pray this?

Love God's name (i.e. His promise) We want God’s justice and we rejoice for our inclusion in "chesed" (great mercy)!

AND pray "Come Lord Jesus!" God will avenge the blood of the Saints who cry," How Long?"  The terrible Day of the Lord is coming and it is a good thing.

WE PRAY:

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.