Bible Commentaries
Psalms 5

Verses 1-12

Psalms 5

A MORNING PRAYER

Verses 1-12:

The Righteous Are The Lord’s Inheritance

(To the chief musician upon nehiloth, a Psalm of David)

Verse 1 calls upon the Lord to give ear to the earnest words of David’s sighings and groanings for Divine help, a desire he hardly had words to express; Even as expressed by Paul, Romans 8:26-27; He cried aloud for the Lord to take notice in a responsive way, to the yearnings of his meditation, in silent praying also, Psalms 17:1; Psalms 54:2; 1 Peter 3:12.

Verse 2 further appeals to the Lord to hearken or "attend to," respond to the voice of his loud earnest cry for help, a more emotional appeal than "my words," and "my meditation." He appealed to the Lord as "my king" and "my God," in contrast with unbelieving kings of heathen peoples. God, who was represented with covenant Israel must aid David lest His theocracy in and covenant with Israel should be shamed, was the basis of David’s cry to the Lord, Psalms 44:4; Psalms 47:6-7; Psalms 74:12; Isaiah 33:22. "For unto thee will I pray," thee only, was David’s pledge, a desired resolve, Psalms 65:2; Colossians 3:17.

Verse 3 expresses David’s faith in and resolve to pray to the living, sustaining, prayer-hearing, and prayer-assuring Jehovah in the morning, for guidance and strength for the day, one day at a time. Such was the desire of our Lord for His disciples, as expressed, Matthew 6:11; Luke 18:1. See also Psalms 30:5; Psalms 59:16; Psalms 88:13; Psalms 130:6; David’s first morning oblation was a lifting up or directing of his voice in prayer to the Lord for speedy help to begin his day, Psalms 143:7-8. The two other time periods of prayer were "evening and noon," Psalms 55:17.

Verse 4 declares that Jehovah God is not a God that holds pleasure in wickedness, such as practiced by his enemies, v.8-10. He added further that no evil dwelt, sojourned, or resided with the Lord, who sanctioned no wrong. Nor would he allow such in His tabernacle, as certified Psalms 15:1; Psalms 61:4. He who would fellowship or commune with God must be holy, as He is holy, as expressed 1 Peter 1:16.

Verse 5 adds that the foolish or "boasting one" shall not stand "in thy sight," or with sanction before the eyes of the Lord. The idea is that those who are boastful and high-minded are creatures of folly and sin in general, offensive to God, in such an .attitude, 2 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Corinthians 11:21; Psalms 14:1; Psalms 73:3. It is added further that the Lord continually hates "all workers of iniquity," or vanity, those who "blab" evil talk, Habakkuk 1:13.

Verse 6 asserts that the Lord will destroy those who speak leasing or speak lies. He will abhor the bloody, cruel, and vicious man, the man of blood and deceit, sending sure judgment upon him, as expressed Revelation 2:2; Revelation 21:8.

Verse 7 vows that David will approach and enter the Lord’s house, surrounded by the care of the multitude of His mercies, as also expressed by Jeremiah, La 3:22, 23. He also pledged that in reverential fear he would worship or bow dawn toward the temple of Jehovah, in contrast with the worship of idols in the profane temples, Psalms 115:4-9. See also his acknowledgment of the Lord’s favor and mercies, Psalms 66:13; Psalms 69:13; Psalms 69:16; and of his fear, Psalms 130:4; Ezekiel 16:62-63; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. The Lord’s dwelling place was in Zion or Jerusalem, Psalms 27:4.

Verse 8 continues David’s cry for the Lord Jehovah to lead and guide him in His righteousness or righteous ways, because of David’s enemies who sought to destroy him, who lay in wait, to way-lay him by the roadside, Psalms 27:11; Jeremiah 5:26; Hosea 13:7; Luke 11:54. He asked that the Lord cause His ways to be strait or unobstructed before him for the day, Isaiah 40:3.

Verse 9 charges that no faithfulness or trustworthiness could be found in the mouth or testimony of his enemies, Psalms 62:4. Their "inward parts," their heart, as distinguished from their mouth, is said to be very wicked, even deceitfully so, as also asserted by Jeremiah 17:9. He added that their throat exited as an open sepulcher that belched forth impious language from a putrid heart. The wicked are charged with flattery of tongue, as they made treacherous, malignant, and deceitful speeches, to destroy their believing victims; Such is the sinful nature of all in unbelief, without restraint, Romans 3:10-17; Psalms 140:3.

Verse 10 Is an appeal from David for the Lord to "destroy them," his continual enemies, and enemies of God. He asked the Lord to cause them to fall by their own deceitful counsels, to judge and punish them with a just penalty for their guilt, as prescribed in the Law, Psalms 34:21. For these were not mere enemies of David as God’s anointed king of Israel but also enemies of God Himself. David’s calling down God’s judgment upon them is what is known as an imprecatory prayer, for God to hasten their appointed judgment, as also expressed Ezra 7:9-10; Judges 1:4; Psalms 7:9-12.

Verse 11 appeals to the Lord to permit all those who put their trust in Him to rejoice, even cause for them to shout for joy, because of His defense of them, along with His defense of David, as expressed Psalms 34:7; Psalms 107:2. He asks that the Lord let those who loved His name "His dignity and authority," be joyful in Him, rejoicing always, Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16.

Verse 12 witnesses that the Lord Jehovah will bless the righteous, showing him favor, encircling him in every storm and battle of life, even as a soldier is protected by a shield, Hebrews 13:5-6; Ephesians 6:10-16.