HOLY PSALM OF DAVID (ZABUR) FIVE

Psalm five opens in the words (v.1-6) of a prayer,

1 O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. 3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. 4 O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. 5 Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. 6 You will destroy those who tell lies. The Lord detests murderers and deceivers

Here the Word of God through the prophet David, shows us that even though every one of us is a sinner, it is only ‘proud’ sinners who will not survive on Judgement Day (v.5).  Those who humble themselves before God, and who walk before him in the world with humble hearts, will inherit his blessings.   The wicked are those who have proud hearts and who practice deception and murder.  Jesus went further and taught that all who are filled with hatred for anyone else have already committed murder in God’s sight and cannot receive God’s forgiveness on Judgement Day.

7 Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.8 Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.

Here we are all taught that any person in this world who wants to approach the Lord God Almighty, must come to the place of worship, protected by God’s Mercy and Love, which is only on those who humble themselves and receive God’s way of being right with himself.  Such people will come and worship God with deepest awe and in submission to him, because he is worthy of such worship and because we all need to worship God in order to be able to live our best during this brief life on earth.

The prophet Isaiah teaches how this is made possible by God’s mercy afforded us through the suffering of God’s special Messiah who would be…

‘pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins ...whipped so we could be healed. All of us have strayed like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all (ref Isa.53 v.5-6) … And because of his experience my righteous Servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins (Isa.53 v.11).

The Book of God (N.T, Ingil) teaches us that Jesus was and is God’s Special Messiah who became this suffering Servant that the prophet Isaiah spoke of, and who has become the means of God’s mercy being afforded to all who turn to Him in repentance and faith. Such people will come and worship God with deep awe and in submission to him, will be protected by God’s mercy and love. The Lord Jesus also taught that all who would receive God’s mercy must be those who show mercy to others.

The Psalm ends with the words,

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. 12  For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.

To which all the godly will respond, ‘Amen’ or ‘Let it be so!’

A poem inspired by Psalm 5: -

You God are not pleased by wickedness:

You hate the viperous tongue.

Bring to nothing the dreams of those who

Bear a grudge or wish me ill.

Lead me Lord in righteous ways

And make clear your path for all my days.

A prayer: - Guide me, O Lord!

mjk 28/11/17 c. mikereflects