Reflections on Psalms 5

 Psalms 05(Contemporary English Version)

1. (A psalm by David for the music leader. Use flutes.) Listen, LORD, as I pray! Pay attention when I groan.
   
2. You are my King and my God. Answer my cry for help because I pray to you.
   
3. Each morning you listen to my prayer, as I bring my requests to you and wait for your reply.
   
4. You are not the kind of God who is pleased with evil. Sinners can't stay with you.
   
5. No one who boasts can stand in your presence, LORD, and you hate evil people.
   
6. You destroy every liar, and you despise violence and deceit.
   
7. Because of your great mercy, I come to your house, LORD, and I am filled with wonder as I bow down to worship at your holy temple.
   
8. You do what is right, and I ask you to guide me. Make your teaching clear because of my enemies.
   
9. Nothing they say is true! They just want to destroy. Their words are deceitful like a hidden pit, and their tongues are good only for telling lies.
   
10. Punish them, God, and let their own plans bring their downfall. Get rid of them! They keep committing crimes and turning against you.
    
11. Let all who run to you for protection always sing joyful songs. Provide shelter for those who truly love you and let them rejoice.
    
12. Our LORD, you bless those who live right, and you shield them with your kindness.

---

Psalm 5 is another Davidic Psalm in which David pleads his case with God for help against his enemies. Each morning, with regularity, he prayed for God's help in this situation and had evidently been doing this for some time without seeing God's response, waiting for His reply. The case he builds for God to hear him and act is in two parts: God's Character and the character of those who assail him.

God's character: He is not pleased with evil or evil-doers. He despises liars and those who practice violence and deceit and destroys them. On the other hand, God is merciful and does what is right. David is filled with wonder just to come into His presence and worship Him.

The character of David's enemies: Nothing they say is true. They seek only to destroy, using their words to do so. They continually commit crimes and turn against God.

Because of God's character for doing right and the character of David's enemies for doing wrong, God had ample cause to "Punish them" and "let their own plans bring their downfall." (5:10) Besides asking God to deal with his enemies, he asked for God to guide him and make His teachings clear to him. Furthermore, he asked that for all who turn to God for protection He would provide them shelter and they would be inspired by Him to "sing joyful songs."

David's enemies for whom he sought God's help were real flesh and blood people. While our enemies may also at times be other people, more often they are circumstances life brings or outcomes of our own choices. Seeking God's help for these is as valid as David's plea for help against his enemies. It is because of His mercy that He takes pleasure in providing us shelter. But He does so, not that we will keep returning to choices that caused our troubles but that we will rejoice in Him and sing for joy because of His faithful love and His deliverance from our troubles.