Psalms 5 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 5

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

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

5:1   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 you¹ 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.

Footnotes

[1] 5:3 Or I direct my prayer to you

Commentary

A Psalm declaring the attitudes of a godly man. The first five psalms follow this theme.

v1-3: Prayer to a God who will hear, "my King and my God", reflecting a real relationship. The psalmist prays, and then waits in expectation. The morning is the time for prayer, Mark 1.35; not by rule, but by habit.

v4-6: Man's natural ungodliness; the wicked, arrogant, bloodthirsty and deceitful. Again, David knew many who could be described in this way. Such could not approach God. God does not take pleasure in evil; for He is utterly righteous.

v7-8: The worship of the godly; we approach God because He is merciful; and we can live in His righteousness. We do not rely on any goodness of our own.

v9-10: The ungodliness of men, affecting the whole of their lives; in particular here the testimony of their lips. (Verse 9 is quoted in Rom 3.13) Our confidence in God's righteousness, that He will pronounce them guilty. David himself does not judge them, for judgment belongs to the Lord God.

v11-12: The blessing of the godly; they enjoy their experience of God, His blessings and protection.