A Morning Prayer to Start the Day
August 4, 2021
Commentary
Since David was a young shepherd boy, he often woke up early to care for his sheep (1SA 17:20). Later, when he ran from Absalom, he probably slept very little. So ‘in the morning’ he prayed (5:2). He would look up, think, speak, groan, and cry to God. God hears every kind of prayer. Even when we ‘don’t know what to pray for… the Spirit‘ takes our prayers to the Father with ‘groans that can’t be expressed’ (ROM 8:26).
Psalm 5 shows us three things about David’s prayer. 1. He prayed with urgency. David did not pray only as a habit. He prayed earnestly (JAM 5:17–18). He said, ‘O LORD, give ear,’ ‘consider,’ ‘give attention,’ and ‘listen.’ 2. He prayed with persistence (LUK 18:7). David repeats the phrase ‘in the morning.’ This means ‘as soon as morning comes’ and ‘every morning.’ 3. He prayed with expectancy. In verse 3, he says, ‘I will look up … I will watch … I will wait in expectation.’ After praying, he believed God would answer (JAM 1:5–6).
David knows, ‘Our God does not enjoy the wicked, the arrogant,’ ‘the evil,’ or ‘all who do wrong’ (5:4-5). He destroys the liars and deceivers (5:6). But David does not ask God to answer his prayers because of he is a good guy. No, it is because of God’s great steadfast love and mercy (hesed) that he enters and bows down before God with his request (5:7).
David’s first request in this psalm is in verse 8. Everything before this prepares his heart. He simply asks God to guide him and make his path straight. The words and plans of the wicked that lead to harm and death (5:9). So, David asks God to stop their evil way (5:10). Then he prays for God to bless, protect, and give joy and favor to those who ‘love Your name’ and ‘take refuge in You’ (5:11–12).
Application
When I wake up worried or tired, will I start my day by looking to God the way David did? What do I need to bring to Him, honestly, this morning? How can I pray with urgency, persistence, and expectation? Will I trust Him to guide my steps today and every day to give me His protection, joy, and favor as I take refuge in Him?SMN
Psalms 5:1–12 (NET)
1 Listen to what I say, Lord! Carefully consider my complaint!
2 Pay attention to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I am praying to you!
3 Lord, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer.
4 Certainly you are not a God who approves of evil; evil people cannot dwell with you.
5 Arrogant people cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who behave wickedly.
6 You destroy liars; the Lord despises violent and deceitful people.
7 But as for me, because of your great faithfulness I will enter your house; I will bow down toward your holy temple as I worship you.
8 Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of those who wait to ambush me, remove the obstacles in the way in which you are guiding me.
9 For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.
10 Condemn them, O God! May their own schemes be their downfall. Drive them away because of their many acts of insurrection, for they have rebelled against you.
11 But may all who take shelter in you be happy. May they continually shout for joy. Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice.
12 Certainly you reward the godly, Lord. Like a shield you protect them in your good favor.
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