Psalm 5 – change the band!

The music has changed! Psalm 4 was ‘with stringed instruments’ and now we have a psalm, depending on the translation, with ‘pipes’,’flutes’ or ‘on wind instruments’! But even if we have a ‘new band’, the message is very similar. David wants God to listen and restates his confidence and expectation.

David is also very ‘open’ he does not want to hide anything from God and invites the Lord to ‘consider his inmost thoughts’. Each day, he says, I lay my needs before you and wait expectantly. There is confidence and hope in his words. He expects God to respond and act.

On what was David’s confidence based? Verse 5 of the psalm gives the answer in the phrase ‘For you are not a God…’ David starts to outline some of what he knows of God’s character and it is this – God’s character – that gives David the foundation for his expectation.

There is a deep ache in David’s heart to go God’s way. He wants ‘clarity’ as to his next steps and does not want to be confused by the people or situations that surround him.

Psalm 5 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

 (0) For the leader. On wind instruments. A psalm of David:

2 (1) Give ear to my words,Adonai,
consider my inmost thoughts.
3 (2) Listen to my cry for help,
my king and my God, for I pray to you.
4 (3) Adonai, in the morning you will hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my needs before you
and wait expectantly.

5 (4) For you are not a God
who takes pleasure in wickedness;
evil cannot remain with you.
6 (5) Those who brag cannot stand before your eyes,
you hate all who do evil,
7 (6) you destroy those who tell lies,
Adonai detests men of blood and deceivers.

8 (7) But I can enter your house
because of your great grace and love;
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in reverence for you.
9 (8) Lead me, Adonai, in your righteousness
because of those lying in wait for me;
make your way straight before me.
10 (9) For in their mouths there is nothing sincere,
within them are calamities,
their throats are open tombs,
they flatter with their tongues.
11 (10) God, declare them guilty!
Let them fall through their own intrigues,
For their many crimes, throw them down;
since they have rebelled against you.

12 (11) But let all who take refuge in you rejoice,
let them forever shout for joy!
Shelter them; and they will be glad,
those who love your name.
13 (12) For you, Adonai, bless the righteous;
you surround them with favor like a shield.

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord that you know all that is going on inside my head. I don’t want to hide any of my thoughts from you. You know the desire I have to ‘go your way’ and ‘see your kingdom come’.

At the beginning of each day, whether I wake up full of energy, or still feel exhausted, I need your help. You know what I need, but I want to give my hopes and dreams to you and ask you for help.

Lord the things I need are easy to see; I have hope because I know you are good and your loving kindness is everlasting.

Lord, swimming against the tide of the attitudes of many of the people around me, and the world in which I live, is tiring. Please give me clarity for each step of the way.

Thank you that I can spend time in your presence and enjoy the sense of being sheltered and protected by you.

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