LEAD ME IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

Introduction

One theme that is seen throughout the life of David is his reverence for His God. He has a true understanding and confidence in his relationship with God His shepherd. Even though David is a flawed individual He has a deep intimacy with his heavenly father. To study the life of David is to study the concept of abiding. David’s prayer life, and devotional life is something that every Christian should strive for. It takes conscience effort and intention to make God so much a part of your life. David has a deep understanding of the Nature of God, His holiness, steadfast love, patience and grace. With this knowledge David approaches the Lord correctly and reverently ever needy and not afraid to express his need to God in prayer. For David his dependence of God is seen throughout his prayer-life in the psalms. They are a record of how much David knew his weaknesses. If you study the life of David, you will see he is a great king, mighty warrior, and fierce friend, however you will also see a man who had a child like dependence upon God. David begged God for His leading and guidance. David knew God’s standards and sought to live those standards everyday.

For us today Psalm 5 is a teacher for us. It stands here at the beginning of the book of worship giving us a glimpse into what a godly dependence looks like. As Christians we want to taste God’s steadfast Love, experience joy, Understand Godly fear, and have unwavering confidence in our faith. Today Psalm 5 provides an outline of priorities, as it were to Begin this total dependence upon God and truly live out a life that is abiding with God. So lets begin… Turn to Psalm 5

What we see here in psalm 5 is that David provides some reasons for His confidence, peace, and strength even when surrounded by enemies and wickedness...

I. David shows us a pleading prayer-life - Vs 1-2 David begins this psalm with a pleading prayer. Asking and knowing that God will answer him. How does he know, Because God is his king and his God. This is a deceleration of his faith. So often in modern Christianity we are taught that prayer is listing things off to God, like a child lists off presents they want for Christmas. However prayer is an intimate thing it is a deep thing a communication that doesn't require words per say. Prayer is pleading it is depth and height. David’s prayers are desperate in nature not so much familiar, even though he is familiar there is always a desperate nature to his prayers. David is desperate for God. That is what makes him stand out from most of us.

What is prayer?

Words - vs1 words do matter they are the clothing of prayer. David because of his faith can voice words that are communicating his heart. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Most of the time we pray with words, however they are only clothing for our prayers

Meditations - these are what goes on in our minds, our hearts. This is where true prayers are offered. David writes “consider my groanings” that word ha-gig literally means meditations. The process of thinking, the mulling over what we want to communicate to God. This is not just the beginning of our prayers but middle, end, and is what consumes our minds throughout our day.

Cry - vs 2 This is the culmination of our emotions and the circumstances that surround us. More often than not many of us start here, we wait until life gets bad, then we cry out in dis-pare expecting instant results. We should always start with words, simple words, because our minds and hearts just may not be ready, but if we start with words in our spiritual walk, learn Christian meditation, then when times come that we do need to cry out, we will be prepared for God’s answers.

John 15, matt 6:6, Rom 8:26, Jere 33:3, Eph 6:18

Ephesians 6:18 ESV

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

II. David had a Daily Discipline - vs 2-3 One of the reasons David was successful and had such a deep relationship with God the Father was his daily devotional life. It was his life, he carved out a portion of his day to spend with God. Well that's nice pastor i just don't have the time… David was King, and leader of his armies, father, husband, diplomat. Yes we do have the time we just need to prioritize God in our lives. David not only made prayer a part of his daily life, but reading, meditating, memorizing, and even writing, he wrote a copy of the Law. Deut. 17:18-20 ““And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.”

David prayed in the morning - He did not start his day without Going before the Lord.

David made meditation a daily discipline -

David also made God’s word a part of his life. ps 119

ps 119:48, ps 143:5, Josh 1:8, Acts 10:9, Isa 40:31, Dan 6:10, 2 chron 29:20

III. David had an understanding of God’s Holy Standards - vs 4-7 David made it his life’s pursuit in studying God, a term that is called Theology. In the study of God David learned things about God’s nature. Things that pleased God and things that did not. Throughout his study either by written academic study, his personal walk with the Lord, and hearing from others David learned

a. God does not delight in wickedness - vs 4 In fact He hates it, His nature will not allow sin in His holy presence

B. Pride and arrogance is reviling before God - vs 5 God does Condemns pride, rebellion, deceit , bloodthirsty (shedding of innocent blood)

C. But God is abundant in steadfast Love - vs 7

rev 21:8, ez 33:11, Jude 1:7, Acts 2:38, 2 thess1:9, isa 64:6, Heb 13:1-5, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

IV. David had a willingness to Let go - Vs 11-12 In order to truly experience the full peace and Joy from walking with God we have to, I hate using this statement because it is trite and overused, but let go and let God. If you ever say this…Make sure not to tell others this, you will seem cold and disconnected. This is a practical statement for you to tell yourself. What does it mean, simply Let God be God. You cannot control things, and you get in trouble when you do. But you need to take yor hands off of situations you cannot control. There is some truth in the serenity prayer...

a. Take refuge in God - when you do you will find Godly Joy Gal 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

b. He is your protection -11

C. His grace is your shield - vs12

ps 91, ps 23, Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

APPLICATION

Exercise Faith

Establish spiritual disciplines

Walk in God’s Holy standard

Allow God to Lead you

Experience true Joy, peace, and contentment