Bible Commentaries

Psalm 5

1.The cry to God the King (Psalms 5:1-3)

2. Hating iniquity and trusting in mercy (Psalms 5:4-7)

3. Prayer for guidance and judgment (Psalms 5:8-12)

Psalms 5:1-3. In the third Psalm trust is expressed in God as shield; in the fourth the prayer is to the God of righteousness. “Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King and my God.” It is a fresh and more intense prayer, because evil increaseth and abounds. The cry is to God as King. David calls Him King, as the Jewish remnant will pray to the King and look for the coming of the King. The Church looks for the Lord, for the Bridegroom. Nowhere is the Lord Jesus Christ spoken of as the King of the Church.

Psalms 5:4-7. The holiness of God is recognized and shared by the godly in hating iniquity. His confidence is in a sin--and iniquity--hating God, a holy God. He has no pleasure in wickedness or in folly. Falsehood He hates and liars He will destroy. Such are the enemies of God and his enemies also. The bloody and deceitful man mentioned in verse 6 is the first mention of the man of sin, the false Christ, who will persecute Jewish saints in the future. And how beautiful it is to see faith breaking through the gathering storm clouds again--”But as for me I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy, in Thy fear I will worship toward Thy holy temple.” The final victory is seen by faith.

Psalms 5:8-12. Prayer for guidance stands first. “Lead me, Jehovah, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies.” What these enemies, especially the future enemies of Israel will be, their character, is described and this is followed by prayer for judgment. Here is the first imprecatory prayer (verse 10). This and the other imprecatory prayers will be prayed during the final days of this age, when the wicked are ripe for judgment. It will be answered and then the righteous will be delivered and have joy (Psalms 5:11-12). All this we shall find very much more prominent in the Exodus section of the Psalms.