The Morning Prayer of the Persecuted

Forms of persecution:

religious

ethnic

general harassment

We can face it at different times and in different ways from different sources. It can be so frustrating to be persecuted because often it’s without reason.

Today as we continue our study in the book of psalms, we turn to Psalm 5, a psalm that David sang/prayed in response to some form of persecution. In the face of it, he turned to God.

(p. 421)

Big Idea: God's promise of protection and guidance is a source of assurance for believers, empowering them to confront adversity with confidence in His righteousness and favor.

A couple of weeks ago, we noted that five of the first 7 psalms could be classified as laments. There are some psalms that can be classified in multiple categories. This week, as we approach Psalm 5, we could classify it as both a lament and also an imprecatory psalm - or a request for vengeance on adversaries. There are elements of this psalm that simply read like a prayer of both protection from the wicked and of protection from being like the wicked. (Boice, 44)

We also see a bit of how these psalms might guide morning or evening prayers.

Psalm 3 was a morning prayer in the face of Abasalom’s rebellion.

Psalm 4 was an evening psalm in response to the lies of adversaries.

Psalm 5 is another morning psalm (v. 3).

Next week, Allen will help us to see that Psalm 6 is an evening psalm.

Charles Spurgeon commented on this morning/evening nature of these early psalms, stating…

Psalms, Volume 1: (Psalms 1–41): An Expositional Commentary Psalm 5: A Prayer for Coming to God’s House

“Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night. Devotion should be both the morning … and the evening star.

I think this is a helpful reminder for us that morning, evening, even midday are times when we can come to the Lord in prayer. In fact, the Apostle Paul urges that we should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17). Now, I know that this is difficult for us to do, but I think that in any and every moment, we are only a breath away from prayer. We can and should take everything to God in prayer.

So here in this psalm, David provides for us both a structure and language for bringing our problems to the Lord. He begins by helping us to see that we should come with a…

Sincere Supplication (1-3)

Psalm 5:1–3 ESV

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.

There are a variety of formats and structures that people have used to order their prayers:

A.C.T.S. - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication

Upward, inward, backward, forward

The Lord’s prayer

Here, David doesn’t begin with praise or thanks, he simply calls out to God - begging or pleading that God would hear his request. While there may be some prudence to beginning with praise, prayer does not require that formality. We can simply come and talk to God.

David’s opening remarks are experiential, expressive, and expectant.

Experientially

He doesn’t talk very specifically about the problem he’s facing, he does speak very personally: - my words, my groaning, my cry.

What’s more, he is personal or experiential in the ways that he addresses God: my King, my God. There is an intimacy with which David approaches God.

One of the beautiful and amazing things about God is that He is both powerful and personal; He is lofty and lowly. When we pray, we are talking to someone who has made Himself known to us in the general revelation of the natural universe, but also in the special revelation of His Word.

Do you and I pray experientially - praying to “my King and my God”? Do we bring before him our words, groanings, and needs?

David submits his supplication experientially, but he also does it…

Expressively

Did you notice how David discusses his prayer? He uses some interesting language:

Words - he is expressing his request with words, verbal language, even vocally. We will see some of that in the verses that follow as there are some specific requests that he makes.

But he also references…

Groaning - some translations may use words like sighing or mediation or inmost thoughts. There are times when we simply don’t know what to pray. We know that there are problems around us, maybe even problems in us. We know that we need God. We need His help. We need His Spirit to express on our behalf.

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

I hope this is an encouragement for us. We may not know what to pray, but we can still come - on bended knee and hands out - expressing our need for God’s help, with or without words.

David uses words and groaning to pray, he also uses…

Cry - In the previous two psalms, David provided a bit of information about the challenges he was facing. Here in this psalm, he is more vague - talking generally about the wicked or the evil. While he refers to them as speaking lies and being bloodthirsty and deceitful, he does not necessarily specify how they have harmed him. David’s cry here is a cry for help - with or without tears, with or without words. He expresses his need for God’s aid.

James Montgomery Boice comments:

Psalms, Volume 1: (Psalms 1–41): An Expositional Commentary The Types of Prayers that Can Be Uttered

Most often we pray by words. That is, we express ourselves in proper, well-reasoned terminology. Sometimes we are in such distress that our prayers are only desperate cries for God to help us. At still other times we cannot find words adequate to express our feelings or voice what we need, though we are nevertheless still praying. But here is the encouraging thing: God hears all kinds of prayers.

David was experiential and expressive in his prayer. He was also…

Expectant

In verse three, David says - “in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” In preparing a sacrifice, David is orderly in his petition. As if he is carefully laying out the pieces of a sacrifice, David is submitting his request to God. But he is not simply letting his prayer rise like smoke from the fire. He is watching, looking for God to answer.

Spurgeon helpfully summarized this attitude by stating this as a “prayer directed” and an “answer expected.” (55)

When we pray to God, are we expecting an answer? Are we expecting some sort of response? Or are we offering up a prayer as one way of covering our bases?

The other day, Danielle asked if I would pray about something related to her work. I did. As I lifted up my prayer I was imagining or expecting one outcome, and yet as the next days progressed, there was another way that God seemed to answer that prayer - a better way. While I was expecting an answer, I wasn’t expecting that one, but that’s ok.

So, we learn in these first few verses that we should pray with sincere supplication. Secondly, David turns his eyes to God - not in a request, but in an acknowledgment of who God is. He seems to be helping us see that if we are to be God’s people, then we should…

Separate from sinfulness (4-6)

Psalm 5:4–6 ESV

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.

In these verses there is no request or plea. There is no call to action. David simply notes some truths about God and what He likes - or rather, what He does not like.

It’s as though David is reminding himself that God’s ways are different than our ways. God takes no delight in wicked ways. David even goes so far as to say that God “hates” evildoers and “destroys” liars. That is some strong language. How do we rectify God’s “hatred” when we see that God also “loves the world”? (John 3:16)

There is a sense in which we could be tempted to look outward at others, but not before we look inward. Where are my actions, intentions, words contrary to the ways of God?

Boice notes that if we “are drawing close to God, [we] will become increasingly sensitive to sin, which is inevitable since the God [we] are approaching is a holy God.” (47)

How do we view sin? Is it a blunder or a misstep? Do we view our sin the way that God does? Do we hate our sin?

Thirdly, David seems to model for us in this prayer that we should…

Seek God’s guidance (7-8)

Psalm 5:7–8 ESV

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.

David acknowledges here that it is only by God’s steadfast love or covenantal mercy that he is able to go into God’s house. It’s not on his own merit or goodness. It’s not something that he has earned by his good behavior. It is by grace alone - and that’s a great thing!

Beloved, as people who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, we should walk with the same kind of gratitude and humility. Some people say that Christians are judgmental and bigoted. That should not be! Jesus was often harshest with the religious leaders and gracious to those who were far from God. As we enter into worship or our times of prayer or even conversations with others, may we do so with humility.

Look back to the psalm, in verse 8, we finally get to the language of his request - that God would lead him in righteousness. It’s as though David sees in himself that tendency for wickedness. It’s as though David is saying “there but for the grace of God go I.”

We may hate sin and yet still be prone to drift from the path. It seems like David is both longing for some aid from God against his foes, but also against his own tendency.

Robert Robinson, in his song “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” famously wrote - “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love…”

David’s request and ours should be that God would lead us in His righteousness. That God would keep us on His path. That we would not revert to wicked and sinful ways of retribution. We do not wage war the same way that others might.

I think this is why, in the next couple of verses, David seems to ask that God…

Sentence the sinful (9-10)

Psalm 5:9–10 ESV

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.

Frankly, these are some difficult verses to think about. David acknowledges that these men utter vile and grievous speech. Their flattery is mocking. As a result, David wants God to judge them. He wants them to be punished for their sinful behavior.

But notice, that David makes this request to God rather than getting his own vengeance. He leaves it in God’s hands. Keep in mind, David has already acknowledged how God views sin and wickedness. In many ways, David is calling on God to do what is in His nature.

David noted the ways that sinners cannot stand before God. So again, how can God “hate all evildoers” and yet “so love the world”?

I think this is where we get to see the cross of Christ. God’s holiness, justice, and mercy all converge in the cross. In His justice and holiness - He condemns sin and expects a justification for it. In His mercy, He himself paid for our sin. Jesus Christ gave up His life in payment for our sin.

Romans 3:21–26 NLT

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Yes, God hates our sin, but in His steadfast love, he atones for our sin. He offers us forgiveness.

Friend, have you receive Jesus offer of salvation? He took the right punishment for your sin and mine. We need only respond with faith and let him lead us in His righteousness.

When we respond to his gracious and merciful salvation, we then get to see God as a…

Shield for the seeking (11-12)

Psalm 5:11–12 ESV

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.

David knew pain and betrayal and hurt, but he also knew the protective love of God. He knew that God could be his shield and he found great joy in that.

He is our shield - forever

He makes us righteous through Jesus Christ

He will protect us for eternity

May we exult in Him!

Let’s pray.

Benediction

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 ESV

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Read: Psalm 5

1. When has an emergency or personal problem caused you to pray?

2. Boice says, “God hears all kinds of prayers” (Psalms 1–41). Do you ever set unhelpful expectations for the prayers you pray? What does this reveal about your view of God? How does the gospel give us freedom as we pray?

3. What were the psalm writer’s main requests? (5:1–12)

4. To what characteristics of God did the psalm writer appeal? (5:4–12)

5. How did David trust God to judge the wicked, rather than seeking revenge himself? (5:10)

6. What did David ask God to do? (5:10–12)

7. What attitude should believers have and why? (5:11–12)

8. How does God promise to bless the righteous?

Sources:

Boice, James Montgomery. Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994.

Ross, Allen P. “Psalms.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Smith, J. Josh, and Daniel L. Akin. Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50. Edited by David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2022.

Wessel, W. W. “Blessed.” In New Bible Dictionary, edited by D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Worshipful. 1st ed. “Be” Commentary Series. Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004.

Wilcock, Michael. The Message of Psalms 1-72. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001.