GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
Psalm 5:1–12
Psalm 5 is a beautiful psalm of a believer praying to God. In a search for the title given to this psalm by different scholars, I found their descriptive titles for Psalm 5 interesting: “The God Who Hears Prayers,” “A God-Saturated Life,” “Prayer for Guidance,” “Deliverance from Dangerous Deception,” “Plea for Deliverance,” “Overthrow of the Ungodly,” “Prayer for Deliverance,” “Responding to Life-Threatening Falsehood,” “Cloudy Dawn” and “How to Begin Each Day in a Good Way.” In other words, this short psalm has a powerful message for each generation, including our own generation of believers.
The Source of Righteousness (1–6)
We lack an understanding of the life situation David faced as he wrote this psalm. The opening verses seem to depict an urgent issue for the king. David commanded God to listen to his words and his sighing — to pay attention to the sound of his cry.
David realized that God alone could help in whatever situation he was experiencing. He says twice in verse 3 that he prays to God in the morning.
I confess that I often pray in the evening rather than in the morning. Believers can pray at any time, but perhaps our morning prayers help us prepare for what the day may bring.
When we pray, we need to keep foremost in our minds the One to whom we pray.
David prayed to Yahweh, using the covenant name of God. In the Bible, a covenant describes the duties of both parties in the covenant.
God does not delight in wickedness, evil or boasting. God does not give His favor to violent and treacherous people. God will do the right thing in relation to our prayer requests.
Notice the emphasis on the type of people who pray but whom God may not answer — the wicked, the evil, the boastful, the evildoers, the liars, the violent and the treacherous.
Why is God’s righteousness a significant part of our faith?
The Benefit of Righteousness (7–10)
As believers we can approach God because of His great “faithful love”— or maybe a better translation is God’s “loyal love.” The Hebrew term is “hesed” and may be translated as God’s faithfulness to His covenant. The proper way to approach God in prayer is with reverence and respectful awe. God is much more than “the Man upstairs,” as I have heard some people describe Him.
David asked God to make his path straight before him. The king described people who were opposed to him with strong language. Their words are not reliable, and destruction is their nature and goal. Their throat resembles an open grave. The unrighteous flatter other people with their tongues. New Testament teachings provide the alternative. We are to pray for our enemies or persecutors (Matt. 5.44–48).
For what area of your life do you need God’s guidance?
God’s blessing on the righteous (11–12)
David calls for believers who have taken refuge in God to continually rejoice and shout for joy. God is our Refuge according to verse 11.
Psalm 46:1–2 expands on the concept of refuge: “God is our Refuge and Strength, a Helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid.”
God blesses righteous individuals and surrounds us with His favor and shield (v. 12).
By Mark Rathel
Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida
