Bible Commentaries
Psalms 5

Verse 1

CONTENTS

The Psalmist is here at his devotions. If David in the first instance of the petitions had an eye to his own personal persecutions, yet, there can be no doubt but that the Holy Ghost designed to instruct the Church, through David, as a type of the Lord Jesus, that what is here said had a more immediate reference to Christ, and God the Father's gracious attention to him.

To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth. A Psalm of David.

Verses 1-2

If we consider the Lord Jesus in these addresses as the representative of his church and people, we not only heighten the several expressions made use of, but raise also our confidence, when coming to the mercy seat with similar petitions in him and through him. The covenant relations Christ here adverts to, by way of strengthening his claims, are very precious when adopted by his people also. And what an unquestionable authority we go upon; when we look up to Jehovah in his name, who said himself, I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. John 20:17 .

Verse 3

What a blessed view is here again given of Jesus! The apostle saith he was heard in that he feared. Hebrews 5:7 . And what an assurance have all the faithful of being heard, when they are led by his Spirit, act faith upon his person and mediation, and thus direct their prayer with the first dawn of the morning, unto him that proves himself the hearer of the prayer of the poor and destitute, and despiseth not their desire. Reader! do put it down as a sure unerring mark, that wherever the Spirit gives grace to pray, the Lord is already come forth to answer prayer. Isaiah 65:24 .

Verses 4-6

How beautiful and appropriate are all the things here said, if read with an eye to the great Redeemer, as putting up the several pleas, because of those evils he came to destroy. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and therefore he was very sure of a glorious issue to his own righteous cause. Reader! do not fail to connect with this view of thy glorious Surety, the certain interest that his church hath in all that is said of him. If Jehovah hath no pleasure in iniquity, what pleasure must he have in him that hath taken it away? And if Jesus be so precious as the head, must not the church which is his body be also precious in him? Oh! thou Holy One of God! cause me to be forever fixing my eyes, my whole soul with unceasing rapture upon thee, as the Lord our righteousness.

Verse 7

Of whom but Jesus doth the prophet here speak? Of all the sons of fallen Adam we may humbly adopt the words of the Lord himself, and say, for who is this that hath engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord. Jeremiah 30:21 . None but he who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, could come into the house of Jehovah, or draw nigh unto him. But, Reader! how blessed is it for us to draw nigh to Jesus, who hath come, and who is both the mercy-seat, the sacrifice, and the temple; the way, the truth, and the life!

Verse 8

The Spirit was given without measure to Jesus, and it is our happiness that from him and in him, the holy unction, poured out on the head of our glorious High Priest, our Aaron, runs down to the skirts of his clothing, even to the humblest and poorest of his people. Reader! looking up to Jesus, shall we not say, Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, even thine only, that thy way may be straight before me?

Verse 9

What an awful view doth this unfold of the lurkings of wickedness. The apostle was struck with it, and gave the same picture to the church. Romans 3:13 .

Verse 10

This is a prayer delivered in the spirit of prophecy. And let the Reader, once for all, observe, that whenever we meet with imprecations of this nature, they are all in reference to the sworn enemies of God and his Christ. There can be no concord between Christ and Belial. The seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent are sworn foes from generation to generation, through time and to all eternity. Exodus 17:14-16 .

Verses 11-12

Let the Reader observe in the close, as in the opening of the Psalm, that the sacred writer speaks of one identical person. It is the righteous one Jehovah will bless: it is him that is to be compassed as with a shield. And who is this righteous person, but the Lord Jesus, the glorious righteous Mediator? In whom are the people to put their trust, and in whom are they to shout for joy, but in Jesus, who is their salvation? Yes! Lord, thou art righteous, and the Lord our righteousness! Everlasting praises to him, who, though he knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 .

Verse 12

REFLECTIONS

PRECIOUS Jesus! how blessed to thy people art thou in every view; and in those views most eminently in which we behold thee going before thy church, as our great High Priest and Representative in the service of the sanctuary! Here would our souls unceasingly contemplate thee, as engaging thine heart to approach for us before Jehovah, in the vast undertakings of our Mediator. Thou didst draw nigh to God, as an absolute God. Thou didst personally engage to approach to the throne of infinite holiness and infinite power. Thou wert found worthy, from the holiness of thy nature, to draw nigh without a Mediator, for thou neededst none, and God declared himself well pleased for thy righteousness sake. And now, Lord; we can and do approach and draw nigh in and through thee. Yes! blessed, forever blessed be thy name, we have access by one Spirit to the Father through thee; and, having such an High Priest over the house of God, we may come boldly to the mercy seat, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in all time of need. Holy Father! I would now say, my voice shalt thou hear betimes in the morning; I will look up in that dear and ever precious name, in whom can never look up in vain. I will make mention of Jesus. I shall find boldness in his blood and righteousness; for thou, Lord, wilt bless him, and bless his people in him, and defend all his redeemed here, and crown them with endless joy hereafter, for his name and righteousness sake. Amen.