Overview: (Boice) Psalm 5 illustrates with clarity the polarity and tension which characterize certain dimensions of the life of prayer. On the one side, there is God: on the other, evil human beings. And the thought of the psalmist alternates between these two poles. He begins by asking God to hear him, but recalls that evil persons have no place in God’s presence. He turns back to God again, expressing his desire to worship and his need of guidance, but then is reminded of the human evils of the tongue. Eventually, he concludes in confidence, praying for protection and blessing.”...“the prayer is not only for protection from wicked persons, but also a prayer for protection from becoming like them.”
v. 1-6 Prayer to God, "Listen to what I say, LORD," " you destroy liars."
When the psalmist prayed he pleaded for the attention of his God who had the covenant with him (LORD=Yahweh, the name God told Moses), his master and his God v.1-2. While he was waiting for the answer v.3 he realized that God will not hear the evil, arrogant, liars, violent and deceitful people v.4-6.
v.7-10 The reason for the prayer, "but as for me...I will enter your house...I will bow down..." "LORD, lead me..For they do not speak the truth...the place of destruction," "Condemn them, O God."
v.7 turns from talking about how God destroys to liar v.6 to how the psalmist can enter the temple. It seems to be arrogant. But the word, "great faithfulness'= of God: kindness, loving kindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures (BDB), In v.1 the psalmist called to the covenant God to hear his prayer. Here he knew that he could come to worship God is only because of His kindness.
The reason why he prayed is because he needed guidance in the right way v.8. People can only lead him to destruction.
v.9 For they do not speak the truth;
their stomachs are like the place of destruction,
their throats like an open grave,
their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.
their stomachs are like the place of destruction,
their throats like an open grave,
their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.
(NET) As the psalmist walks down the path in which God leads him, he asks the LORD to guide his steps and remove danger from the path (v. 8), because he knows his enemies have “dug a grave” for him and are ready to use their deceitful words to “swallow him up” like the realm of death (i.e., Sheol) and bring him to ruin.
v.11-12 focus on shelter and joy, "take shelter in you be happy," "shout for joy," "Shelter them...may rejoice," "Like a shield you protect them.."
What kind of shield will protect us?
(Walton) The soldiers, helmeted and carrying long pikes, collectively protect themselves behind tall rectangular shields.
Make sure we are the one that loyal to God and godly then God will protect us with a shield and not afraid of the wicked.
5:11 But may all who take shelter in you be happy!
May they continually shout for joy!
Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice!
5:12 Certainly you reward the godly, LORD.
Like a shield you protect them in your good favor.
Reflection:
May they continually shout for joy!
Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice!
5:12 Certainly you reward the godly, LORD.
Like a shield you protect them in your good favor.
Reflection:
1. Prayer is not just what we tell God. During his prayer this psalmist reflected on himself and realized that what God condemned and the reason he could come before God was only by God's mercy. How important is prayer to our spiritual lives!
2. The psalmist needs God to guide him for the danger of the liars. We also live in a world of liars and will be deceive easily. We need to hid in our Shelter (God) and let God be our shield. The virus is fearful but sins and liars are more fearful. Personal protection gear is good for the protection against the virus but God will be our protection in all circumstances.
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