Psalm 5
February 2, 2025 Father, there are divergent paths we can follow in this life, one leads to righteousness and peace, and the other leads to downfall and ruin.
In this Psalm we see the way of those who oppose you; how the wicked bear the seeds of their own destruction; their own advice leads them astray; they fall by their own counsels. They are evil and boastful. They are liars. They are bloodthirsty. They are deceivers. Their throats are like open graves and they flatter for gain.
But then there is David, a man who humbly follows you. He enters your house because of your steadfast love. We hear him saying in this song, “I am here, Lord. It is morning and once again, like a priest carefully laying out the sacrifice on the altar, I lay out my wordless groaning and bewildered cries before you, then I watch and wait, knowing you will hear and answer me.”
What a contrast. The wicked cannot stand before you because you hate evil and you abhor their ways. They are unrepentant. You will cast them out. They are active in their evil and self-destructive ways,
The righteous, on the other hand, put their trust in you; they bow before you; they turn to you with longing, waiting with the expectation that you will hear and answer.
The wicked face away from you in a rebellion that will destroy them. The righteous look up, praying to you alone, their King and their God.
Father, may we learn to look up, to watch and wait, understanding that you know what we need before we ask it. May we trust that even when we can only groan or cry out you will hear and understand. May we have confidence in the abundance of your steadfast love. May we pray to you every morning. May we pray to you without ceasing, pursuing you at every turn and in every circumstance with humility, trusting in your grace and mercy.
Lead us, O Lord, in your righteousness; make our ways straight before us. We take refuge in you. Be our shield. Cover us with your favor so that your name will be exalted among those who love you..
Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray,
Amen