Post by arete on May 7, 2014 20:10:08 GMT
Introduction:
New Year's is a time of year for making resolutions. If you have never made a New Year’s resolution, I am confident that you have heard of others doing so. While considering both resolutions and prayer as detailed in Psalm 5, I thought of the such resolutions, especially those of Jonathan Edwards, the Puritan preacher. Concerning his resolutions and especially those on prayer, he wrote:
24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
(For more on these resolutions please Click HERE!)
Let us now turn to Psalm 5, a psalm and prayer of David…
Context:
As we look again to the Psalms, I wanted to nudge our memories in regards to the basic understanding of the Psalms. Hebrew poetry does not rhyme in sound, but in idea. This is parallelism: two or more lines are in relationship to one another in one of three major ways – 1. The lines Compare to one another. 2. The lines Contribute to one another; all lines past the first add some new detail to the idea. 3. The lines Contrast with one another; this is usually marked with “But”. The psalm this morning is an imprecatory Psalm as well as a lament Psalm. Imprecatory calls for God’s judgment against God’s enemies &/or his people’s enemies. This psalm is a rather mild form of imprecatory as David asks God to rightly judge and punish the enemies of God who also afflict David. Laments express grief of one’s condition, a statement of trust in God and an affirmation of praise to him. Now we turn to Psalm 5…
Body – Psalm 5:1-12 – ESV
Lead Me in Your Righteousness
To the Choirmaster: For the Flutes: A Psalm of David.
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.
Hear Me! (vv. 1-6)
This is the lament portion (vv.1-3) and begins the movement to a statement of trust (vv. 4-6). There are 5 strophes in the psalm. This section focuses on the first two in verses 1-3 & 4-6.
This psalm is a prayer pleading for God’s ear based in a relationship with God (1-2). The first three lines are comparisons. Each is a cry to God, to hear the writer. There is a hint of command, but it is one of certainty. Because God is both King and God to King David, he is establishing that it is because he has this relationship with God that he knows God will hear him and give an answer.
The prayer is carefully thought out (v. 3). David has planned the time – in the morning to begin his day. Also, David uses language here for the very careful and specific instructions given to the priests to prepare a sacrifice to God. This prayer then is a well thought out offering to God. David offers his worries about his enemies to God and trusts in God’s righteous response.
The prayer trusts in God’s nature (v. 4-5). David knows that evil is not in God’s nature nor can God’s nature permit evil to go unanswered. The hate here is God’s holy, just and righteous response to evil and those who commit evil.
The prayer pleads for justice based in God’s nature (vv. 5-6). David pleads with God to punish evildoers. This is a prayer in keeping with Genesis 12 where God promises to punish the enemies of his people.
Illustration:
Furnish thyself with arguments from the promises to enforce thy prayers, and make them prevalent with God. The promises are the ground of faith, and faith, when strengthened, will make thee fervent, and such fervency ever speeds and returns with victory out of the field of prayer.... The mightier any is in the Word, the more mighty he will be in prayer. —William Gurnall
Application:
Prayer must be carefully prepared. I don’t mean that we write it all out every time, or that we stifle the emotion of the moment as we pour our hearts out before our God. The preparation is the way we safeguard our relationship with God and know him by his word so that we are praying in keeping with his person and character. When we in right relationship with God, with our sins confessed and repented and we have spent time with him so that we know his will and his nature, it allows us to pray righteously with holy hands and a mind set on God’s truth.
Lead Me! (vv. 7-8)
This is the statement of trust portion of the lament. This section is the third strophe of the psalm.
The psalmist moves to contrast himself from evil men (v. 7a). The main difference between David & the evil men is not David’s personal righteousness. He is guilty of every offense he listed. The difference is the steadfast love of God.
The psalmist trusts in the relationship he has with God (v. 7b). This love relationship is the covenant love of God. Because of God’s love for him & their relationship based in God’s person & promise – David is part of God’s household, his family. David can come before God
The relationship with God drives worship directed toward God (v. 7c). The relationship and love of God moves David to worship – to bow down before his God. Paired with the word “fear”, we find David in hushed and holy awe that God would be so good to him.
The psalmist prays for God’s plain direction in his crisis (v. 8). This is the clear and bold statement of David’s trust in God. David is literally asking God to turn his eyes toward God’s righteousness. While David is anxious concerning his enemies, he asks God to make righteousness straight before him so that he won’t make a mistake, but that God will lead him straight.
Illustration:
Prayer is not appointed for the furnishing of God with the knowledge of what we need, but it is designed as a confession to Him of our sense of the need. In this, as in everything, God's thoughts are not as ours. God requires that His gifts should be sought for. He designs to be honored by our asking, just as He is to be thanked by us after He has bestowed His blessing…Prayer is not intended to change God's purpose, nor is it to move Him to form fresh purposes. God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass through the means He has appointed for their accomplishment. —Arthur W. Pink
Application:
Prayer is for our guidance and not God’s. Sometimes we pray like we have to update God so he will have the information he needs to start acting according to our wishes. Our prayer should focus on the person of God and who he is and not just what we hope he will do for us. What he has done, including our salvation, should drive us to hushed and holy awe. As our prayers give way to heart felt worship, then we should pray to know God’s way, his path, his righteousness and what he would have us to or have us go. By all means bring concerns and laments before God, but never without trusting in him and in his ways to work righteousness and goodness in us and to those around us.
Avenge Me! (vv. 9-12)
This section includes the imprecation (vv. 9-10) and affirmation of praise for the lament (vv. 11-12). The final two strophes verses 9-10 & 11-12 conclude the psalm both as a lament and imprecation. David asks for right vengeance – for just punishment to be dealt out by the only true and perfect judge. David does not trust himself to deal out true justice and so asks God to act on his behalf.
The psalmist describes his enemies before God (v. 9). David’s enemies despise truth. They have destruction in their hearts. They have death within. They speak evil to others. They are not only David’s enemies – they are rebels against the God of truth, light and life.
He now cries out for perfect justice (v. 10). David knows these are rebels against God and that is a far greater evil than any they have committed against an earthly king. David asks for perfect justice from a perfectly just God. He asks that their schemes fail; that their own evil overtakes them; that they are cast out from the presence of the holy God.
The psalmist now clings to comfort and joy in God no matter the situation’s outcome (v. 11). David contrasts the hopeless outcome of the evil to their refuge found in God alone. David prays for joy and protection for all who love God and for their worship to glorify God.
The psalmist declares his hope is in the person of God (v. 12). Here we have a pure affirmation of praise to round out the lament. David knows God. He knows that no matter how and when God may choose to judge and punish evil, God will be blessing and protecting the godly. David can rest secure in the care of God and so can we.
Illustration:
I had rather stand against the cannons of the wicked than against the prayers of the righteous. —Thomas Lye
Application:
Prayer for justice is godly. We have all been wronged from time to time. Praying to God to handle the wrong means that we turn over our hurts and fallen sense of right and wrong to God himself. This is for our good because then we can let go of wrongs and escape bitterness. We also can find joy when God chooses to forgive and heal our wrongdoers if that is his will. Nonetheless, we can leave justice in his hands and trust fully in his care even in harsh times of trial.
So What? What do we do with this teaching?
Illustration:
Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness. —Martin Luther
Prayer must be founded upon the truth of God. We should strive to know the word and will of God to inform our prayers – so that we are not guilty of praying contrary to the will of God. Furthermore, when we know we are praying according to his word; we also know that he will answer us according to his will and all seasoned with mercy, grace, holiness and justice.
Prayer must be our first step in any situation. We do not go to God to inform him and demand action. Or if we do, we are asking for discipline. Instead, we should go before God seeking his face, his will, his answer to whatever is before us – whether it is a lament or a praise.
Prayer should go before God for justice. When we have been wronged, he is the only one we know who knows every facet of the situation and will judge things fairly and apply grace to both the one wronged and the one who has committed the wrong. We can trust in his righteousness to cover us and protect us.
Pray like David. Go before God honestly and rely upon him totally. Nothing you have to confess or lament is too heavy for God to bear or to answer. No praise you may have to offer is too lofty for his glory and greatness. As we look to a New Year…if you have any tendency to make resolutions, resolve this – to pray like David in 2013 and forever…
Benediction:
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26 NRSV)
New Year's is a time of year for making resolutions. If you have never made a New Year’s resolution, I am confident that you have heard of others doing so. While considering both resolutions and prayer as detailed in Psalm 5, I thought of the such resolutions, especially those of Jonathan Edwards, the Puritan preacher. Concerning his resolutions and especially those on prayer, he wrote:
24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
(For more on these resolutions please Click HERE!)
Let us now turn to Psalm 5, a psalm and prayer of David…
Context:
As we look again to the Psalms, I wanted to nudge our memories in regards to the basic understanding of the Psalms. Hebrew poetry does not rhyme in sound, but in idea. This is parallelism: two or more lines are in relationship to one another in one of three major ways – 1. The lines Compare to one another. 2. The lines Contribute to one another; all lines past the first add some new detail to the idea. 3. The lines Contrast with one another; this is usually marked with “But”. The psalm this morning is an imprecatory Psalm as well as a lament Psalm. Imprecatory calls for God’s judgment against God’s enemies &/or his people’s enemies. This psalm is a rather mild form of imprecatory as David asks God to rightly judge and punish the enemies of God who also afflict David. Laments express grief of one’s condition, a statement of trust in God and an affirmation of praise to him. Now we turn to Psalm 5…
Body – Psalm 5:1-12 – ESV
Lead Me in Your Righteousness
To the Choirmaster: For the Flutes: A Psalm of David.
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.
Hear Me! (vv. 1-6)
This is the lament portion (vv.1-3) and begins the movement to a statement of trust (vv. 4-6). There are 5 strophes in the psalm. This section focuses on the first two in verses 1-3 & 4-6.
This psalm is a prayer pleading for God’s ear based in a relationship with God (1-2). The first three lines are comparisons. Each is a cry to God, to hear the writer. There is a hint of command, but it is one of certainty. Because God is both King and God to King David, he is establishing that it is because he has this relationship with God that he knows God will hear him and give an answer.
The prayer is carefully thought out (v. 3). David has planned the time – in the morning to begin his day. Also, David uses language here for the very careful and specific instructions given to the priests to prepare a sacrifice to God. This prayer then is a well thought out offering to God. David offers his worries about his enemies to God and trusts in God’s righteous response.
The prayer trusts in God’s nature (v. 4-5). David knows that evil is not in God’s nature nor can God’s nature permit evil to go unanswered. The hate here is God’s holy, just and righteous response to evil and those who commit evil.
The prayer pleads for justice based in God’s nature (vv. 5-6). David pleads with God to punish evildoers. This is a prayer in keeping with Genesis 12 where God promises to punish the enemies of his people.
Illustration:
Furnish thyself with arguments from the promises to enforce thy prayers, and make them prevalent with God. The promises are the ground of faith, and faith, when strengthened, will make thee fervent, and such fervency ever speeds and returns with victory out of the field of prayer.... The mightier any is in the Word, the more mighty he will be in prayer. —William Gurnall
Application:
Prayer must be carefully prepared. I don’t mean that we write it all out every time, or that we stifle the emotion of the moment as we pour our hearts out before our God. The preparation is the way we safeguard our relationship with God and know him by his word so that we are praying in keeping with his person and character. When we in right relationship with God, with our sins confessed and repented and we have spent time with him so that we know his will and his nature, it allows us to pray righteously with holy hands and a mind set on God’s truth.
Lead Me! (vv. 7-8)
This is the statement of trust portion of the lament. This section is the third strophe of the psalm.
The psalmist moves to contrast himself from evil men (v. 7a). The main difference between David & the evil men is not David’s personal righteousness. He is guilty of every offense he listed. The difference is the steadfast love of God.
The psalmist trusts in the relationship he has with God (v. 7b). This love relationship is the covenant love of God. Because of God’s love for him & their relationship based in God’s person & promise – David is part of God’s household, his family. David can come before God
The relationship with God drives worship directed toward God (v. 7c). The relationship and love of God moves David to worship – to bow down before his God. Paired with the word “fear”, we find David in hushed and holy awe that God would be so good to him.
The psalmist prays for God’s plain direction in his crisis (v. 8). This is the clear and bold statement of David’s trust in God. David is literally asking God to turn his eyes toward God’s righteousness. While David is anxious concerning his enemies, he asks God to make righteousness straight before him so that he won’t make a mistake, but that God will lead him straight.
Illustration:
Prayer is not appointed for the furnishing of God with the knowledge of what we need, but it is designed as a confession to Him of our sense of the need. In this, as in everything, God's thoughts are not as ours. God requires that His gifts should be sought for. He designs to be honored by our asking, just as He is to be thanked by us after He has bestowed His blessing…Prayer is not intended to change God's purpose, nor is it to move Him to form fresh purposes. God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass through the means He has appointed for their accomplishment. —Arthur W. Pink
Application:
Prayer is for our guidance and not God’s. Sometimes we pray like we have to update God so he will have the information he needs to start acting according to our wishes. Our prayer should focus on the person of God and who he is and not just what we hope he will do for us. What he has done, including our salvation, should drive us to hushed and holy awe. As our prayers give way to heart felt worship, then we should pray to know God’s way, his path, his righteousness and what he would have us to or have us go. By all means bring concerns and laments before God, but never without trusting in him and in his ways to work righteousness and goodness in us and to those around us.
Avenge Me! (vv. 9-12)
This section includes the imprecation (vv. 9-10) and affirmation of praise for the lament (vv. 11-12). The final two strophes verses 9-10 & 11-12 conclude the psalm both as a lament and imprecation. David asks for right vengeance – for just punishment to be dealt out by the only true and perfect judge. David does not trust himself to deal out true justice and so asks God to act on his behalf.
The psalmist describes his enemies before God (v. 9). David’s enemies despise truth. They have destruction in their hearts. They have death within. They speak evil to others. They are not only David’s enemies – they are rebels against the God of truth, light and life.
He now cries out for perfect justice (v. 10). David knows these are rebels against God and that is a far greater evil than any they have committed against an earthly king. David asks for perfect justice from a perfectly just God. He asks that their schemes fail; that their own evil overtakes them; that they are cast out from the presence of the holy God.
The psalmist now clings to comfort and joy in God no matter the situation’s outcome (v. 11). David contrasts the hopeless outcome of the evil to their refuge found in God alone. David prays for joy and protection for all who love God and for their worship to glorify God.
The psalmist declares his hope is in the person of God (v. 12). Here we have a pure affirmation of praise to round out the lament. David knows God. He knows that no matter how and when God may choose to judge and punish evil, God will be blessing and protecting the godly. David can rest secure in the care of God and so can we.
Illustration:
I had rather stand against the cannons of the wicked than against the prayers of the righteous. —Thomas Lye
Application:
Prayer for justice is godly. We have all been wronged from time to time. Praying to God to handle the wrong means that we turn over our hurts and fallen sense of right and wrong to God himself. This is for our good because then we can let go of wrongs and escape bitterness. We also can find joy when God chooses to forgive and heal our wrongdoers if that is his will. Nonetheless, we can leave justice in his hands and trust fully in his care even in harsh times of trial.
So What? What do we do with this teaching?
Illustration:
Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness. —Martin Luther
Prayer must be founded upon the truth of God. We should strive to know the word and will of God to inform our prayers – so that we are not guilty of praying contrary to the will of God. Furthermore, when we know we are praying according to his word; we also know that he will answer us according to his will and all seasoned with mercy, grace, holiness and justice.
Prayer must be our first step in any situation. We do not go to God to inform him and demand action. Or if we do, we are asking for discipline. Instead, we should go before God seeking his face, his will, his answer to whatever is before us – whether it is a lament or a praise.
Prayer should go before God for justice. When we have been wronged, he is the only one we know who knows every facet of the situation and will judge things fairly and apply grace to both the one wronged and the one who has committed the wrong. We can trust in his righteousness to cover us and protect us.
Pray like David. Go before God honestly and rely upon him totally. Nothing you have to confess or lament is too heavy for God to bear or to answer. No praise you may have to offer is too lofty for his glory and greatness. As we look to a New Year…if you have any tendency to make resolutions, resolve this – to pray like David in 2013 and forever…
Benediction:
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26 NRSV)