It is time to open our Bibles. We are halfway into this week and sometimes we just need to break a little Bread to strengthen us. Today's passage is another psalm of David. David had a heart of worship long before he wore the king's crown. These psalms show us David's heart as we read the struggles and difficult situations he was in. These psalms also point us to the One who can make all things new and turn everything around for our good. If you haven't read through Psalm 5 yet, I encourage you to do so before we begin today's study.
Verses 1-3 This is another psalm of prayer. The first three verses are talking about God hearing David's prayers. David asks God to listen to his groaning and cries. He addresses God as King and says it is to Him that he will direct his prayers in the morning. Then David says this, "and will look up." That is the key to this whole thing. David is asking in faith because he is going to look up to God for the answers. He is not going to look down and feel bad about the way things are going. He is not going to look around and feel discouraged by others who may seem to have it together. He is going to look up because that is where his help comes from.
Verses 4-6 The next three verses is David talking to God about who God is. David lists these attributes or characteristics of God:
God does not take pleasure in wickedness.
God does not dwell with evil.
God does not look at the foolish.
God does not love workers of iniquity.
God will destroy those who speak lies.
God loathes bloodthirsty people.
From this list we can have a good idea of what David is coming up against. His life could be endangered. We know it was in danger many times in Scripture. These enemies of David's are characteristics of our enemy. Satan is wicked, evil, foolish, worker of iniquity, father of lies, and always seeking whom he may devour. We could be praying this same prayer against the attacks of our own enemy any day of the week.
Verse 7 This verse David declares what he is going to do in the midst of his troubles. He says he is going to the house of the LORD where His mercy is multiplied and in fear and reverence he will worship God. Sometimes we need to declare who God is and what He stands for and then allow that to remind us God is fighting for us. We can then worship Him knowing the multitude of His mercy!
Verse 8 David requests God do something for him. He says to God, "Lead me!" How often is this is our prayer? God lead us in YOUR righteousness. Our righteousness is as filthy rags according to Isaiah 64:6. We want to be led by God in His righteousness. David said to God, in essence, "Show off in front of my enemies. Show how good and awesome You are and then make Your way straight in front of me." David wants to make sure he doesn't miss the path God is leading him on. We can choose to do things ourselves and walk in our filthy rags and while the enemy looks on, we will fall down, get scuffed up and hurt our witness as followers of Christ. But we can also choose what David chose. We can allow God to lead us in His righteousness on His perfect path. Which will you choose today?
Verses 9 &10 David has a list of characteristics about his enemies. He says this:
They lie.
They are wicked to the core.
Their mouth is an open grave.
They flatter falsely.
The enemy wants to paint a beautiful picture of what life could be like living on your own terms. The trouble with that is it is all smoke and mirrors. It's lies. He is not concerned with our well-being. He does not want us comfortable and happy. He wants to torture us every chance he gets. He wants to play the pipe so we will dance on the broad way toward hell. It is not a party they are going to. It is a place of eternal destruction and torment. We must not listen to the lies, the false flattery, the vanity and pride.
David has a solution in verse 10. He tells God to destroy them. He asks God to let them trip over their own stumbling blocks they set for others. He asks God to cast them out for the multitude of their sins. Remember he just said God has a multitude of mercy, but of the enemy he says they have a multitude of sins. David points out their rebellion, and rebellion is as the spirit of witchcraft, according to 1 Samuel 15:23. We know that is exactly what God is going to do to the wicked. They will all be destroyed.
Verse 11 David asks God for a blessing for the followers of God. He says let us rejoice, shout for joy, and be joyful in God because He defends us and we love Him. God honors that request to this day. We can rejoice and shout for joy. We can be full of joy in God knowing He fights our battles and carries us through every hardship we endure. We love His name. We love everything about Him.
Verse 12 David ends the prayer recounting how good God is. He says, "You will bless the righteous and like a shield you will surround them with favor." What an awesome way to end time alone with God. Have you ever thought about God's favor surrounding you like a shield is because David spoke that prayer? God honored David's prayer. He listened to him and He answered that prayer and it is still being answered generation after generation. What a wonderful God we serve!
I have been so encouraged by today's passage. I sure do love Bible Study Wednesdays and especially going through the Psalms. It gives us a wonderful formula for how we can pray boldly and effectively. These are prayers that God is still answering today. I hope to meet you back here next week to go through another Psalm. Tomorrow we will count our blessings and Friday we will discuss some food for thought to take us through the weekend. I hope something I have shared today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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