SONGS OF WORSHIP

Psalm 5

Sometimes it seems like other people don't care what happens to us. In fact, it may even seem as though everyone around us is against us and actually hopes that we'll be taken out of their way. Under those circumstances, there's only One to Whom we can turn, and He's the One to Whom David turns in this psalm. He composed it not only for himself, but for all God's people, because he knew that anyone who is godly would sometimes face what he faced.

But David learned a wonderful thing from his experience: the godly CAN turn to God when people fail them. He says, "To You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up."

David knew that God knew. He knew also that God saw his heart - and the hearts of his enemies. He said, "For You are not a God Who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity." He knew, in other words, that he could pray to God, because God really knows and cares.

In fact he was really confident about it. He said, "But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple." It's as though he were saying, "Nobody else will listen to this complaint, Lord, but I know You will, because You're that kind of God, so I'm going to lay it all before You.

Then he went on to describe to the Lord those who were against him - "there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue." If he had gone to people like that to solve his problems, he would probably have ended up being like them, and that's why he prayed, "Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face." He wanted to be pleasing to the Lord so that the Lord would hear his prayer.

Knowing that all of God's worshippers have faced some of the same problem, David then led them in a common united prayer. He sang, "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your Name be joyful in You."

Then he led them in a response of praise to the righteous God Who hears that kind of prayer. He sang, "For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield!"

How about you? Is He that kind of God for you? Can you - do you - turn to Him when all others fail?

Next "Songs of Worship" >Psalm 6 >

Back to < "Songs of Worship Index" <