Book One (1:1-41:13)
PRAYER: IN THE MORNING
Psalm 5:1-12
Reading: Mat 7:7-11
Songs: All The Way My Savior Leads Me; Sweet Hour Of Prayer; Did You Think To Pray
Theme: learning how to begin our day
INTRODUCTION
A. In order to live a victorious Christian life we need a plan for victory. David helps us to understand that such a plan must include daily time with God. In Psalms 3, David had been running from Absalom and there at Manaheim his men were sent out to stop the Israelite Army. In Psalms four David offered up an evening prayer (90, 139, 141). In Psalms five (94, 95) he offered up a morning prayer (Psa 55:17).
B. The days outlook will have a great affect on whether or not victory will be ours and our outlook depends on where we look starting out our day - inward, outward or upward. >From Psa 5, let’s examine how the writer ordered his day and look at:
Discussion:
I. HIS DESIRE (5:1-3).
A. Give ear to my words, O LORD ... for unto thee will I pray (5:1-2).
1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician <05329> (8764) upon Nehiloth <05155>, A Psalm <04210> of David <01732>.>> Give ear <0238> (8685) to my words <0561>, O LORD <03068>, consider <0995> (8798) my meditation <01901>.
2 Hearken <07181> (8685) unto the voice <06963> of my cry <07773>, my King <04428>, and my God <0430>: for unto thee will I pray <06419> (8691).
1. God (my King, and my God) was the person in prayer, to whom David made his plea (Give ear to my words ... Hearken unto the voice) in prayer.
a. David wasn’t just doing what is his duty but was seeking God’s attention and consideration.
b. In Psalms 25 David wrote, “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.”
c. Certainly, in lifting our voice up to God in prayer, we want him to give ear or respond with acceptance.
d. However, in calling on God to give ear to our prayers we must realize he only answers his faithful (1Pe 3:12; cp. Isa 59:1-2).
2. David kept himself in contact with God on three levels:
a. communication - words, prayers
b. meditation - thoughts
c. supplications - cry
3. Let’s examine briefly David’s priority for prayer.
B. ... in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee... (5:3).
3 My voice <06963> shalt thou hear <08085> (8799) in the morning <01242>, O LORD <03068>; in the morning <01242> will I direct <06186> (8799) my prayer unto thee, and will look up <06822> (8762).
1. David’s priority was to begin his day in conversation (prayer) with God (v 3).
a. Time with God is a low priority in the lives of most people.
(1) Even many Christians make their plans for the day and then consider God, seeking blessings upon the plans.
(2) It is far better to consider first God then make our plans for the day arranged around him (Jam 4:13-17).
(3) Starting the day making God the center of our day, is part of the way we give God his rightful place in our lives.
(4) It is the way to live a transformed life.
(5) Any other way of beginning the day is very much a detriment to us spiritually.
b. Not only did David order his day beginning with pray to God but David confidently looked up toward heaven expecting an answer.
(1) David knew his voice would be heard by the Lord.
(2) David’s knew that those who troubled him were really fighting against God.
c. God opposes the wicked, and supports the godly.
d. Sometimes, because of our worldview or our worldly outlook upon the world, we are distracted by troubles into wrongly thinking the wicked have the upper hand.
Transition: Let’s examine what motivated David to pray expecting results.
II. HIS CONFIDENCE (5:4-7).
A. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness ... (5:4-6).
4 For thou art not a God <0410> that hath pleasure <02655> in wickedness <07562>: neither shall evil <07451> dwell <01481> (8799) with thee.
5 The foolish <01984> (8802) shall not stand <03320> (8691) in thy sight <05869>: thou hatest <08130> (8804) all workers <06466> (8802) of iniquity <0205>. {in…: Heb. before thine eyes}
6 Thou shalt destroy <06> (8762) them that speak <01696> (8802) leasing <03577>: the LORD <03068> will abhor <08581> (8762) the bloody <01818> and deceitful <04820> man <0376>. {bloody…: Heb. man of bloods and deceit}
1. David also knew that God would not hear the voice of the “foolish,” the “workers of iniquity,” for he will not allow them to stand before him (vs 4-6; Isa 59:1-2).
a. leasing, Strong’s - 03577. bzk KAZAB kaw-zawb’; from 03576; falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol):— deceitful, false, leasing, + liar, lie, lying.
TWOT-970a; n m AV-lie 23, lying 2, leasing 2, deceitful 1, false 1, liar 1, lies + 01697 1; 31 1) a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing
b. There are a number of ways a person could display leasing or falsehood.
(1) Those who know the truth but seek for a different gospel to be preached on to them demonstrate falsehood, (Pro 14:12; 16:25).
(2) Those who there is more than one way to the promises demonstrates falsehood (Joh 6:44; 14:6).
(3) Those who had once been faithful but have turned from the demonstrate falsehood.
B. ... I will come into thy house ... and in thy fear will I worship ... (5:7).
7 ¶ But as for me, I will come <0935> (8799) into thy house <01004> in the multitude <07230> of thy mercy <02617>: and in thy fear <03374> will I worship <07812> (8691) toward thy holy <06944> temple <01964>. {thy holy…: Heb. the temple of thy holiness}
But as for me
1. David knew in living his life in obedience to God he was acceptable to God.
2. David’s stamina to endure and his strength continue came from not just from privately properly worshiping God in prayer but also in properly worshiping God in public (v 7).
a. David often expressed joy at the thought of worship (Psa 122:1), eagerness and enthusiasm (Psa 100).
b. However, there are many who claim that they get nothing out of worship.
c. The truth is probably that they put very little into it and consequently get very little back from it.
d. Worship of God is not just about what we receive from it individually but what we also put into it.
(1) If a person went to visit a friend and while visiting did nothing, said nothing, just sat looking at the friend, neither the person visiting nor the friend would get much out of the visit.
(2) So it is with worship.
I will come into thy house
e. David worshiped at the place God had appointed for his people.
(1) Many don’t realize the importance of worship because they don’t view it properly.
(2) We certainly can worship God in private but there are times when the church is called together to worship together and God expects, as much as it depends on us, that we are present with the other saints at those times (cp. Heb 10:23-25).
f. When David entered the temple to worship he didn’t view it as a time:
(1) to sell things or to make contacts
(2) to socialize
(3) to play
(4) It was to worship almighty God.
(5) When need to understand that our time in worship is not to play with babies, joke with one another or to day dreaming.
(6) It is a time for worship.
Transition: if our worship is improper than our prayers will go unanswered. David’s godly life and worship led him to speaking to God with confidence.
III. HIS REQUEST (5:8-12).
Regarding Himself
A. Lead me, O LORD ... (5:8).
8 Lead <05148> (8798) me, O LORD <03068>, in thy righteousness <06666> because of mine enemies <08324> (8802); make thy way <01870> straight <03474> (8685) before my face <06440>. {mine…: Heb. those which observe me}
1. David turned to the Lord for guidance in what is right, not to emotion or the world (v 8; Pro 16:25; Jer 10:23).
a. David was not self-righteous in his worship.
b. He recognized his own faults and asked the Lord to keep him from sin even in regard to his enemies.
c. God will always help us keep on the straight way, through his word (cp. Heb 4:12).
B. ... Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels ... (5:9-10).
Regarding His Adversaries
9 For there is no faithfulness <03559> (8737) in their mouth <06310>; their inward <07130> part is very wickedness <01942>; their throat <01627> is an open <06605> (8803) sepulchre <06913>; they flatter <02505> (8686) with their tongue <03956>. {faithfulness: or, stedfastness} {their mouth: Heb. his mouth, that is, the mouth of any of them} {very…: Heb. wickednesses}
1. David was able to recognize the sinful ways of the worldly and sought for God’s judgment on them.
10 Destroy <0816> (8685) thou them, O God <0430>; let them fall <05307> (8799) by their own counsels <04156>; cast them out <05080> (8685) in the multitude <07230> of their transgressions <06588>; for they have rebelled <04784> (8804) against thee. {Destroy…: or, Make them guilty} {by…: or, from their counsels}
2. This is the ultimate end for those who ignore the word of God and his righteousness. Those who reject truth and continue in evil transgressions and rebellion against God will be destroyed. We have a chance through the grace and power of God to escape the judgment that is to fall upon those that reject the plan of salvation God gave through faith in Jesus Christ.
Regarding The Righteous - His Assurance
C. ... let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice ... (5:11-12).
11 But let all those that put their trust <02620> (8802) in thee rejoice <08055> (8799): let them ever <05769> shout for joy <07442> (8762), because thou defendest <05526> (8686) them: let them also that love <0157> (8802) thy name <08034> be joyful <05970> (8799) in thee. {defendest…: Heb. coverest over, or, protectest them}
1. Only proclaiming we love God is not the way of love of which David had written.
a. >From the scriptures we realize that those who love God live obedient to his word (Joh 14:15).
b.
12 For thou, LORD <03068>, wilt bless <01288> (8762) the righteous <06662>; with favour <07522> wilt thou compass <05849> (8799) him as with a shield <06793>. {compass: Heb. crown}
2. Those that walk with the Lord are not only blessed but are in continual fellowship with him.
3. They can take confidence in his protection.
Conclusion:
In order to live a victorious life we need to develop a habit of speaking with God, to desire to so do, having confidence he will answer.
Sources:
in charity through Christ, R a ym on d Wi s e man