Covered with Favor – Psalm 5

Here is another lament psalm, one that does not end with a declaration of praise for God’s deliverance from his enemies, but which anticipates His deliverance.  How does it apply to you?  Do you have enemies?  We all have one and the same enemy in Satan.  There is no truth in his mouth, it is an open grave, and he has definitely rebelled against Yahweh.  He is seeking our destruction.

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.  Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.  O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.

The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.  You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.  I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.  Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.  (Psalm 5 ESV)

The psalmist (David) is in deep distress because of the wickedness of evildoers against him involving lying and the threat of violence.  They may be pretending to be for David in public but privately are plotting his death.  David makes a morning sacrifice along with prayer and waits for God to mete out justice, to express His hatred for these men because of their unmitigated evil.  He asks God to cause them to fall by their own counsels, to reap the consequences of taking counsel against him, Yahweh’s anointed.

Though he asks in distress, as one of God’s faithful, depending on God’s abundant and steadfast love, he finds refuge in Yahweh and anticipates joyful singing when God delivers him.  He trusts in God’s blessing on the righteous and that He will shield them with His favor.