in Colossians, it has been made clear that we are to put off the old self with its lusts and desires and to put on the new self which is made alive by the Spirit at work in us renewing our minds. That God desires us to walk in His ways is clear from scripture. Here in Psalm 5, David lifts his voice to God in prayer and asks God to hear his words–his groanings, his cries. And what is at the heart of this prayer? “Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness.”
Scripture Reading for Sunday, April 13, 2025
Psalms 5 (ESV)
TO THE CHOIRMASTER: FOR THE FLUTES. A PSALM OF DAVID.
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 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.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.
9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 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.
11 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.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Reflections on Scripture Reference
Psalm 5 is a reminder to us that we do indeed live in our world with enemies. God certainly has enemies. But we, as those who are one with God through Christ, share those enemies. I read an interesting article by Ligonier Ministries, linked below this post, that discussed what theologians have often meant when defining our enemies.
Traditionally, Christian theologians have identified our three chief foes as the world, the flesh, and the devil. To call the world our enemy is not to say that we are at war with creation itself. God made the physical world “very good” in its original state, and we steward it for our benefit and His glory (Gen. 1). The world against which we must wage war, rather, consists of the fallen system that resulted when Adam fell and was cast out of Eden (chap. 3). Since the fall, creation has been infected with pride, lust, and all manner of ungodliness. The people who belong to this system because they have not been regenerated hate Christ and all who are united to Him by faith alone (John 7:7). And though sometimes opposition from the fallen world is overt and even consists of persecution, perhaps more often it opposes us by seeking to infect us with its values. (Our Enemy the World).Did you catch that last part? Our enemy, the world, seeks to infect us with its values. Certainly David had a more specific set of enemies in mind who sought to destroy him, but as we examine his prayer to God here in Psalm 5, let us remember that we live in a fallen world that would like nothing more than to see us overcome by its values. There is nothing more harmful to a Christian’s witness and testimony than to fall back into the sins of the flesh that are clearly condemned by God.
David mentions two different abundances in this psalm. One is the abundance of the enemy's transgressions. The other is the abundance of God’s steadfast love. For the Christian, we find our comfort and hope in this dichotomy. For we know that we were once enemies of God as well. But God, being rich in mercy or abundant in steadfast love, saved us by sending His son to die in our place and to pay the penalty for our sins. Since we have been given this abundant steadfast love, we ought to echo the cries of David here in his prayer to God and seek to be led in God’s righteousness. For it is to this we are called in sanctification. To put on the new self being made into the image of Christ. David tells us that God does not delight in the wicked and that wickedness cannot even dwell with God. This leads David to fear God so that he may enter God’s house.
With this reality in mind, David is brought to worship–and so we should be. David reminds us, “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 (vs. 11-12). May we, as the redeemed of the Lord, sing for joy as well. For He has given us an anchor that keeps the soul. May He be pleased to lead us by His Spirit into His righteousness.
Ligonier Ministries. “Our Enemy the World”
Song Selection for Sunday, April 13, 2025
Song 1
A Mighty Fortress is our God
This song echoes the truths of Psalm 5. God is our shield. He is our protection from the wickedness of our enemies. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. Our helper, He amidst the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
Song 2
To God Be the Glory
As I read Psalm 5, I was struck by David’s call to ever sing for joy. His response to God’s goodness was to worship Him. May we also lift our voices ever to Him. To God be the glory. Great things He has done!
Song 3
Speak O Lord
If we are to know His ways and His righteousness, we need Him to speak to us through His word. Take Your truth, plant it deep in us, shape and fashion us in Your likeness.
Song for Consideration
Speak O Lord
Keith & Kristyn Getty
WORDS AND MUSIC BY KEITH GETTY & STUART TOWNEND
Lyrics:
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.
Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.
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