Psalm 5 - The Path to the King
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Please listen to this quote from Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan:
SLIDE
“The pathway was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore good Christian was the more put to it; for when he sought, in the dark, to shun the ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over into the mire on the other; also when he sought to escape the mire, without great carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly; for, besides the dangers mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, and ofttimes, when he lift up his foot to set forward, he knew not where or upon what he should set it next.”
Today we are going to discuss a Psalm that describes the path to the King. We are going to see how the King, namely God, guides us along this path toward Him. It is a dangerous path at times - yet he protects us along the way.
This is another Psalm of lamentation by David. We have had a few of these in a row here. This psalm is written in a vacillating way. In other words it is full of ups and downs. Like a mountainous region of hills and valleys, we see a positive section followed by a section of judgment and repeated again.
As we study this Psalm, let us remember Psalm 1 which gave us an overview of the entire book of Psalms. We have two paths. The path of the righteous and the path of the unrighteous. Here we are going to see God’s sovereign hand on his people as they walk along the path of the righteous.
I will start off by reading the Psalm in its entirety and then we will break it up and work our way through.
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.
Prayer
Today we are going to discuss five ways that God helps us on our path to Him. In the first point we see that: The Path of the Righteous is:
Scripture References: Psalm 1
The Path of the Righteous is...
I. Provided by the King (1-3)
I. Provided by the King (1-3)
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.
Explanation
This Psalm starts off similarly to the last couple of Psalms. David is crying out to God and asking for God to hear his prayers. Again, David doesn’t approach God based on his own righteousness. He approaches God as King! He acknowledges the greatness of God and humbly cries out to Him.
He actually not only cries out, he groans! We see in Romans 8:26-27:
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. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Do you ever catch yourself feeling so overwhelmed that you cannot even really get out an intelligible prayer! I know I have been there. When the cares of this world start to burden you down, sometimes it takes everything you have to even try to pray. But praise God we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, provided we are believers, that intercedes for us and speaks for us! Those feelings and struggles that we cannot seem to vocalize are provided to God by the Holy Spirit. What a wonderful comforter, friend, and counselor is our God through the Holy Spirit!
There are also three key requests in these first couple of verses I want us to focus in on. If you are someone who highlights or underlines in your Bible, these would be three things I would certainly highlight:
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.
Give ear, Consider, Give attention – David is asking for God to listen to his prayers. He is approaching God in lamentation. He wants to know that God hears his cries and groans. Obviously, David is feeling the weight of the evil of those around him. We will see later in the Psalm his cry for justice.
When is David doing this praying? He is doing it in the morning.
He is praying in the morning and prepares a sacrifice for God in the morning. The morning is an interesting time. How we start our days is often somewhat prophetic of how our days will go. If we start our days with a sour attitude and a self-focused heart – we usually will end up discouraged, angry, or upset.
If we start our days with a heavenly and God-honoring mindset – calibrating our heart through reading the Word of God and praying – we will more often respond to the exact same situations with a peace and power that comes from God.
You can take two different people and place them in the same situation. One of these people may be walking with the Lord and walking in the Spirit while the other may be walking in the flesh. It is amazing how much differently these two persons may respond to the exact same trial.
We need to be sure to spend time with the Lord each morning. Some may say – but my mornings are so crazy! Get up earlier if you have to! The morning is key to starting your day.
The great southern baptist preacher, Adrian Rogers once said,
"The prayer offered to God in the morning during your quiet time is the key that unlocks the door of the day. Any athlete knows that it is the start that ensures a good finish." - Adrian Rogers
We discussed last week how important it is to reflect on your days at night. We discussed the importance of sanctification by reflecting on our good and bad deeds from the day.
Just as important if not more-so – is preemptively starting our day rightly in the Lord.
Why are all of these thoughts we have discussed important? It is because God is the provider of the path. It is by approaching Him that we can even find the path. We must come to the God and Him alone. Note how David ends verse 2 - we come to God and Him alone. In order to start on the path God today my friends, you must trust in Christ alone for salvation. The path to God starts and ends with Christ.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
He is the only way. His path is the only path that is provided by God to man. He is the only way in which we can reach eternal life. Praise God for sending Christ for us!
Brothers and sisters, we can be sure that He is worthy to turn to in times of struggle along the path. When we cry out we can be sure that He hears us. And we can trust Him fully because He has not only provided that path to Himself, but we can also trust Him because:
The Path of the Righteous is:
Scripture References: Romans 8:26-27, John 14:6
II. Protected by the King (4-6)
II. Protected by the King (4-6)
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.
Explanation
God responds harshly to evil. We see here a list of things that God stands against.
God stands against these things:
Wickedness/Evil
Boastful - Pride
Liars/Deceivers
Bloodthirsty – Murderers
This is an important section that describes the character of God. God hates these things. He hates sin. He stands against sin boldly and directly. We see this paralleled in Proverbs 6:16-19:
16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Do you see the amazing parallels of these passages? Do you see the consistency of God’s character? God never changes. He hates these things even today!
As we walk along the path there are dangerous persons that will try to harm us as we go along our way. I want us to address each of these four groups of people that may try to attack us as we walk along the path.
God stands against these things:
Wickedness/Evil
Boastful - Pride
Liars/Deceivers
Bloodthirsty – Murderers
1. There are those who are wicked and evil. These persons have no good in them. They continually seduce you with their temptations. They lead you astray with their worldly wisdom and thoughts.
2. The boastful and proud are very dangerous. They puff you up and influence you to take your guard down. They make you think that you are stronger, better, and more powerful than you truly are. These are perhaps some of the most dangerous of persons.
3. A third type of person to watch out for are liars and deceivers. They are often flattering persons. They make you feel special and whisper kind things to you. But before you know it they have laid a trap for you. They are quick to turn on you. They are users. They will be kind to you until your usefulness has run its course.
4. Finally there are the bloodthirsty murderers. Maybe these persons are truly murderers in their truest sense… or maybe they are life-killers in the spiritual and emotional sense. Some out there find their pleasure in destroying the lives of others. They love to see others suffer. Watch out my friends. These persons like to destroy marriages. They like to destroy families. They like to destroy churches. Be on guard as you walk along the path!
What are we to do my friends as we walk along the path to the King and run into these dangerous persons? Are we to fear! Certainly our natural reaction to such thoughts and persons can be fear.
But we are not to fear! Why? Because we are to trust in the Lord who hates evil much more than we ever could! We are to trust in the protector of the path - God! He fights our battles for us.
Let’s look at some Scriptures that show us the power we have in God Almighty:
14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
22 You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.’
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
These are just a few of the many many verses that show us how the Lord is our protector.
We see this fleshed out so beautifully in 1 Samuel 1:3
3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.
The Lord of Hosts here is Jehovah Sabaoth (Sab-ee-oth)
Jehovah Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts, The Lord of Powers, The Lord of Armies
The refers to the fact that God is over all of the hosts of the heavens and the earth. He is over all! He is sovereign.
This name for God is used over 250 times in the Old Testament. We need not fear because the Lord is in charge of everything. There is no dominion in which He cannot exercise His authority. Put your trust in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
If you have not trusted the Lord of Hosts - please consider this strongly today. This wonderful God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to give you eternal life and protection against evil for all eternity. Place your faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for your sins, rose from the grave three days later and now is interceding for you at the right hand of the Father! You must repent, or turn away from your sins, and then believe in Jesus as your Savior and you may be truly saved. He desires a relationship with you and wants to walk along this path with you. He is such a wonderful walking partner my friends. I pray those believers listening would Amen that! When we are most tempted to fear, He is always there for us. Praise God for His protection!
We can be sure that the path of the righteous is protected by the King. We also know that
The Path of the Righteous is:
Scripture References: Proverbs 6:16-19, Ex 14:14, Deut 3:22, Rom 8:31, Psalm 34:17, 1 Sam 1:3
III. Permeated by the King (7-8)
III. Permeated by the King (7-8)
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.
Explanation
Why choose the word permeate here? This word means to spread throughout or to pervade. God is everywhere. This is an incredible fact we need to understand.
We see David entering God’s house because of God’s steadfast love. Note that he is not entering on his own merit as we have discussed before. It is based on the grace, mercy, and love of the Father that David can approach God. This steadfast love is an unfailing and faithful love.
I also want us to realize that David approaching God in his house doesn’t mean that God is only in the Old Testament tabernacle or temple. We know this to be true for many reasons but we also see this clearly at the end of verse 8 that God is making making straight the way before David. God is omnipresent. Meaning He is everywhere at once! He is fully sovereign over all of creation. He sees everything and is present everywhere. He was present in the temple and he was present on the path. Today, He is present in heaven and he is present along your path. He is present in the hearts of believers and he is present throughout the universe.
David bows down in fear of God. Some may say, Jonathan didn’t you just say we don’t need to fear because we have God! Let’s not misunderstand this word fear used in this sense. This is reverential fear. This is the healthy fear that a child should have of their parents. We don’t fear that God will do unjust harm toward us. Yes, He will most certainly discipline us because He loves us just as a father disciplines his son (Heb 12:6). Yet we know that God does everything for our good and not for our harm (Rom 8:28).
Illustration/Argumentation/Application
Now that we have seen God’s omnipresence let’s see how God permeates our path.
David asks God to lead him in God’s righteousness – he asks God to make his paths straight. Nowhere is this more clear than in Prov 3:5-6:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Whose understanding are you leaning on as you walk along the path. Are you walking in your own abilities and skills? Are you relying on your neighbors abilities, your spouse’s abilities, your parents abilities? Are you relying on their relationship with God to direct you?
Wise counsel from godly advisors is encouraged in Scripture. We need to seek counsel when making decisions along the path. Sometimes there are difficult circumstances that require us to humble ourselves before people and ask for help. Yet, this does not excuse us from having our own relationship with Christ and going to Him personally as well!
Never forget that He is walking along with you on this path as well. Seek counsel from Him and from others who are seeking Him wholeheartedly. But do not neglect your own walk with the Lord.
The path of the righteous is permeated by the king… and
The Path of the Righteous is:
Scripture References: Heb 12:6, Rom 8:28, Proverbs 3:5-6
IV. Pruned by the King (9-10)
IV. Pruned by the King (9-10)
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.
Illustration
Are any of you hikers out there? How difficult is it to hike a path that hasn’t been pruned or cut back? When a path is neglected we can run into briars, fallen trees, fall into covered holes, or other dangerous obstacles. Yet our God is a God who prunes the path. He restrains evil and sovereignly protects His people. Interestingly, He sovereignly protects His people from themselves as well!
Explanation/Argumentation/Application
Psalm 5:9 is quoted in Romans 3:13 where Paul is discussing the unrighteous. Paul is attesting that there is no one who is righteous and no one who seeks God! But some of you will say - I am seeking God! Paul is talking about even us before we came to a saving knowledge of Christ. We only came to Christ because He sovereignly drew us and we responded! This is seen clearly when Jesus says:
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
We are all sinners apart from Christ. No righteousness dwells in us apart from Christ. But praise God, when we place our faith and trust in Christ, His righteous is given to us!
After saving us and pruning us, God prunes the path by his judgment of the wicked.
Verse 10 asserts that the wicked should bear their guilt, fall by their own counsels, and be cast out because they have rebelled against God! How true this is. All of the unrepentant sinners who rebel against God will be cast out - into the lake of fire referred to as Hell and be eternally separated from God. God will honor this request eternally speaking.
Yet we must not miss that God restrains evil even now. As we along the path, God continues to pear back and prune the path as we make our way along this Christian life. There are parts of the path that make us feel much like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress in the quote I opened this message with. The path can be very narrow and dangerous at times. However, our God offers His sovereign protection and guidance to us as we walk along the path toward Him.
Praise God, he prunes the path in which we walk. Finally we can know that,
The Path of the Righteous is:
Scripture References: Rom 3:13, John 6:44
V. Prospered the King (11-12)
V. Prospered the King (11-12)
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.
Explanation
David ends this Psalm with five ways the godly prosper as they walk along the path.
5 ways the godly prosper as they walk along the path:
1. Joy - those who take refuge rejoice/sing for joy
2. Protection - spread your protection over them, covered with a shield
3. Sharing in God’s Glory - exulting in Him
4. Blessing - you bless the righteous
5. Favor - covered with favor
Joy - those who take refuge rejoice and sing for joy. We who take refuge in God have a reason to sing! We know that we are victorious through Christ. The battle has been fought and won. We can rejoice even in our trials because we know the end of the story! God has overcome!
Protection - spread your protection over them, covered with a shield. We see two aspects of protection here - an active protection and a defensive protection. God is actively spreading His protection over His people. We can be sure that He sees us and watches over us. He also acts as a shield. A shield is a wonderful protection because it can move to extinguish any of the arrows of the evil one (Eph 6:6)!
Sharing in God’s Glory - we are able to exult in God. We get to share in His glory for all eternity in heaven. We actually see in Revelation 21:23 that there is no need for a sun or moon because the glory of God gives light and its lamp is the Lamb, namely Christ! How wonderful is that picture my friends!
Blessing - God blesses the righteous. He gives us what we do not deserve. When we deserved Hell, He gave us eternal life. When we deserve chains, He gives us freedom. Our God is a God who blesses.
Favor - God covers the righteous with His favor. I love the definition of favor - it is an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. God shows us a kindness that is counterintuitive. As we discussed in regards to blessing - God shows us kindness, grace, and mercy when we deserve judgment. He hears our prayers when we don’t deserve to be heard. All because of His blessed favor.
The enemy will make you focus on the difficulty of the path. Frankly, your own flesh will make you focus on this difficulty as well. Fatigue, aches and pains, frustration - will all set in as you walk the path. But don’t lose sight of the prosperous blessings of the Lord we have just mentioned. Keep your eyes on Christ and His Word and you will see the lamp unto your feet and the light unto your path (Psalm 119:105). Only by walking with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can any enter the narrow path and be saved (Matt 7:13-14). Submit your life to Him fully my friends. You will not regret it.
Scripture References: Eph 6:6, Rev 21:23, Psalm 119:105, Matt 7:13-14, Eph 2:8-10
Conclusion
We have seen five ways the King prepares the path of the righteous. The path of the righteous is provided, protected, permeated, pruned, and prospered by the King. God is sovereignly directing His people down the path to Him.
SLIDE
As we close this message I want to make one thing clear. This path is a very real path. There are two extremes that we must avoid as we walk along this path. The first is the extreme that we can walk this path based on our works. This is a lie from Hell. We can only walk this path through the power of Christ. Don’t think for a minute that you can make it on your own. The other extreme is that we do not need to persevere at all and that after we choose to start walking on the path we are done and there is no more after this. The Bible is clear that those who are truly saved continue on this path. We are not saved by our works but true saving faith produces works (James 2)!
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Many will quote the first two verses here but fail to read verse 10. True believers will walk in the good works that God prepared beforehand for them to walk in! Again - we are only able to walk in these good works by Christ’s power and not our own. We didn’t even prepare these works - God did - so who are we to boast. But we must avoid these two extremes of works-based salvation and the other extreme of what what might be called a faith that doesn’t save - a faith that is a head knowledge but not a heart commitment.
My friends, let us walk this path with zeal and love for the Lord by the power of the Lord.
I challenge everyone listening to evaluate what path you are on. Spend some time truly evaluating whether you are on the right path. Be sure you are on the path to the King and not the path that leads to destruction.
Once you have have solidified that you are on the narrow path - the path to the King - spend some time reflecting on how your walk along the path is going. Remember Who walks beside you and walk in His strength, protection, and power.
Let us Pray