Living Psalm 5
Scripture: Psalm 5
1 Listen to my words, Lord; consider my sighing.
2 Pay attention to the sound of my cry, my King and God, for I pray to you.
3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; In the
morning, I plead my case to you and watch it expectantly.
4 You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot dwell with you.
5 The boastful cannot stand in your sight; you hate all
evildoers.
6 You destroy those who tell lies;
the Lord abhors violent and treacherous people.
7 But I enter your house by the abundance of your
faithful love; I bow down toward your holy temple
in reverential awe of you.
8 Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my
adversaries; make your way straight before me.
9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say;
destruction is within them; their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.
10 Punish them, God; let them fall by their own
schemes. Drive them out because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them
shout for joy forever. May you shelter them,
and may those who love your name boast about you.
12 For you, Lord, bless the righteous one; you
surround him with favor like a shield.
__________________________________________________________________
"To pray is to enter the treasure house of God and
claim His promises." – Rev. C.L. Franklin.
Psalm 5 reflects on the relationship between God and His
people, particularly for those new to the faith. Within the first few years of
walking with Christ, you may find yourself navigating uncharted
spiritual terrain. David's heartfelt words in this psalm offer a guide to
trusting God in prayer, righteousness, and protection.
The Power of Morning Prayer
David begins by expressing his dependency on God through
prayer: "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I
plead my case to you and watch expectantly" (Psalm 5:3). For new
believers, morning prayer establishes a rhythm of reliance on God and sets the
tone for the day.
The Connection between David's generation and the
Israelites in Exodus is their dependence on God. The Israelites gathered manna
every morning in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4-5). This daily provision required
them to depend on God; as David prayed in the morning, we should also begin our
day with prayer. Morning prayer allows God to order our steps and nurture our
spiritual reliance on Him.
In Mark 1:35, Jesus modeled this practice by praying in
solitude before sunrise. Morning devotion becomes an act of expectation,
trusting that God will guide and provide.
Dedicate the first moments of your day to prayer. Present
your plans, concerns, and joys to God, and trust Him to lead you.
Trusting God's Righteousness
David's plea for guidance reflects his confidence in God's
character: "Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my
adversaries; make your way straight before me" (Psalm 5:8). As a new
believer in Christ, trusting God's righteousness involves aligning your life with His
will and seeking His direction.
Before David made his plea, the writer of Genesis gave an
example of what it is to trust the plan of God through Joseph's experience.
Despite facing betrayal and false accusations, Joseph's unwavering faith led to
God's righteous plan being fulfilled (Genesis 39:2-4).
As you and I live by faith, we learn to trust God's path of
righteousness.
In Ephesians 6:14, Paul describes the "breastplate of
righteousness," symbolizing God's protection and our commitment to His
standards.
Take a moment and reflect on areas of your life that
need God's guidance. Pray for clarity and strength to follow His righteous
path.
Rejoicing in God's Protection
Psalm 5 concludes with a mighty assurance: "But
let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May you
shelter them, and may those who love your name boast about you" (Psalm
5:11). God's protection brings joy and peace, especially when facing challenges
as a new believer.
I know God is my refuge; I have learned to rejoice in good
and challenging times.
At the end of your day, identify moments when God has
provided or protected you. Write them down and offer gratitude for His
faithfulness.
In my closing remarks, I will mention that Psalm 5 teaches us to pray daily,
trust God's righteousness, and rejoice in His protection. These practices will increase our faith and build a firm foundation. By starting our day
with God, seeking His guidance, and celebrating His provision, we can
experience the fullness of His promises.
Final Challenge: Choose one aspect of this devotion to
focus on this week. Whether dedicating your mornings to prayer, seeking God's
direction, or rejoicing in His faithfulness, take a step closer to Him and
watch how He transforms your journey.
No comments:
Post a Comment