Psalm 5

Pray like David

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” - Martin Luther

PRAY BOLDLY

Psalm 5:1–2 ESV

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.

James 4:2 NIV

2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

2. PRAY EARLY

Psalm 5:3 ESV

3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. While the dew is on the grass, let grace drop upon the soul. Let us give to God the mornings of our days and the morning of our lives. Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night. Devotion should be both the morning star and the evening star. - Spurgeon

Don’t give in to the lie that you don’t have time to pray - create time to pray.

3. PRAY SYSTEMATICALLY

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible ערך

ערך (ʿrk), VB. lay out, set in rows; get ready, set out in order; confront, assess. Greek equiv. fr. LXX: παρατάσσω (11), ἑτοιμάζω (4).

Verb Usage

1. to prepare — to make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, or other purpose. Stems: qal, 10. See also עשׂה 1, עתד, פנה, שׂים, שׁית. Related Topic: Frame.

We have to order our prayers, we need to be systematic. Before you arrive at the drive through you know what you want to order otherwise it’s a mess! You forget things, you waste time, there’s confusion. It’s the same with prayer - be organised with your prayers.

Why I use liturgy - it helps to frame and order my prayers

“None of us will ever find a better pattern for private prayer and Bible reading anywhere than that offered by the Prayer Book’s own daily offices.” - JI Packer

4. PRAY EXPECTANTLY

3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. - NLT

David didn’t just reel off his list of requests then walk away - he waited, he watched expectantly for an answer.

Do you expect an answer when you pray?

5. PRAY HUMBLY

Psalm 5:4–6 ESV

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.

David prayed with God’s holiness in full view.

Theme of the righteous vs the ungodly again.

Does God hate the sin and love the sinner or does he hate them both? Yes.

When we pray we must keep God’s holiness and hatred of evil and unrighteousness in full view. Yes, He is our Father as Jesus taught us to pray - but He is also holy!

6. PRAY THANKFULLY

Psalm 5:7–8 ESV

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.

David acknowledged that the only difference between him and the ungodly was the abundant steadfast love of God. It’s only by grace that we enter.

Gratitude for God’s grace and favour are an essential part of a healthy prayer life.

7. PRAY PURPOSEFULLY

Psalm 5:9–12 ESV

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.

David prayed that God’s righteous purposes would be carried out in his nation.

Matthew 6:10 ESV

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

David prayed for himself, that God might lead him in righteousness but he also prayed for others.

Our prayers impact the times that we live in - how much more would we pray if we knew that prayers shape history?

“God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. They outlive the lives of those who uttered them.” - E.M. Bounds