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PSALM

CHAPTER 5

1 To the chief Musician upon Ne'-hi-loth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

This song given to the "chief musician" by David, was probably to be sung in accompaniment with a flute (Nehiloth).

The song contains a great plea and a great commitment. Often we take our pleas to God; but how strong is our commitment? David's plea is that God will hear his prayer. His commitment is that he shall pray EVERY morning!

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

David acknowledges that God is holy and despises wickedness. He also acknowledges that God is the Determiner of every man's destiny. The saved will be brought to glory, and the wicked shall be destroyed in hell.

Therefore, David's commitment is to plea for mercy and to very reverently come before God and offer worship (verse 7).

8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

David's plea is also for guidance in everyday living (verse 8). He asks for the power of God to lead him in the "straight" way of righteousness, because his enemies would love to see him fail and fall.

Even today, the world is full of "enemies" of Christian people (verses 9-10). Because Christians, like David, desire righteousness in the earth, the "enemy" (and those who are with him) desires to tell lies and set traps for Christians.

David asks for God to use their own traps against them (verse 10). The rebellion of wicked people is directly against GOD Himself, and therefore a detriment to Christians in the world.

The trust of the Christian is in the defence of God against wickedness (verse 11). The JOY of the Christian is to know the END of this life is to be with God for eternity where there is no more wickedness.

God sets a "shield" of protection about the Christian today (verse 12). That "shield" is the armor of God (Ephesians 13-18). Though the Christian may suffer some of the circumstances of wickedness in this world, he is SHIELDED from wickedness itself. You see, wickedness is SEPARATED from God, but the Christian is SEALED in God's Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) through faith in Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER 6

1 To the chief Musician on Neg'-i-noth upon Shem'-i-nith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.

Is it coincidence or Divine Providence that causes this song to follow song number 5? The subject matter of song number 5 leads directly into the subject matter of this song.

Since the saved person is a "child" of God, adopted by the Lord Jesus Christ, he should EXPECT to be corrected by his Heavenly Father. However, we plead with God that He not correct us in anger (verse 1).

Instead, we desire that God, as a loving Father, treat us with MERCY! For we are weak and still sinful though saved. Also, we are surrounded by wickedness in this world and that causes our soul to be "vexed" (verses 2-3). How long we shall endure this difficulty is entirely left up to our Divine Creator.

Therefore, our plea should be for God's MERCY and his salvation from the evils of this world (verse 4).

5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

There is death, and then there is death! We shall all come to the point of physical death unless our Saviour returns prior to our demise. In physical death, people are separated from the world and can no longer give earthly WITNESS to God's glory.

But "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) The SECOND death may be the reference David is making. The "grave" here is a transliteration of the word "sheol," which is used to describe the grave and also "the pit," or eternal hell.

When a person is finally judged, and placed in the eternal burning pit, he will no longer have any praise for God at all. He will only curse himself for his stupidity, and curse God.

6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

The iniquity of this world surrounding us gives Christians GRIEF (verse 7). It causes us to weep and mourn constantly (verse 6). Christians have no desire to see the wicked finally judged and sent to an eternal punishment separated from the God of goodness and glory. Our desire is like that of the Lord: to see them repent and be saved (2Peter 3:9).

The Christian does desire to be separated from those who refuse repentance and determine to plan iniquity (verse 8). But we CRY and WEEP over their lostness and eternal destiny (verse 8).

Our Lord DOES hear the call of His people (verse 9). Those who determine in their lives to devise evil (verse 10) will ultimately be shamed and "sore vexed" in the eternal pit.

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