Join us as we explore the heartfelt pleas of David in Psalm 5, a psalm noted for its morning devotion complete with requests for divine protection. Discover the richness of its imprecatory nature and the profound insights it provides into living a life that rejoices in the Lord’s mercy and righteousness. This episode not only enhances biblical understanding but also inspires a personal journey of faith, encouraging listeners to maintain a constant dialogue with God through prayer.
Friends, our psalm cast is just ahead, where we look at one of those precious psalms, one that today prays, praises, presents, please, and helps us to see God’s protection. You’ve got to stay with us right here on the International Gospel Hour. Be right back.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
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Well, thank you to our J-Web and greetings to all of you. We are appreciative of our listeners here on the International Gospel Hour. If you’re relatively new to our broadcast, we’d like to tell you just a little bit about us so you’ll get to know us better. Now, you are currently listening to our daily 15-minute program, and occasionally you may hear shorter segments called Are You Listening? 60 Seconds for the Savior, A Couple of Minutes for Christ, and we also have a 30-minute broadcast available each week. So we appreciate you listening to our broadcast, especially at the station to which you are listening. And as I always say at the end of the broadcast to keep listening, we want you to keep listening to the International Gospel Hour here on this station or platform wherever you may be listening to our broadcast. Matter of fact, can I ask this of you? Our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. If you would not mind taking just a moment. Give us a call at 855-444-6988. You don’t have to leave your name or anything. You can just say, I’m listening to your broadcast on, and let us know where you are listening to International Gospel Hour. Now, we also have a weekly television broadcast via our YouTube channel, which is International Gospel Hour. It’s also available on a number of over-the-air television markets in the United States, Canada, as well as through Faith World TV in the United Kingdom and in Europe. You can also find our programming options at our website, internationalgospelhour.com. If you scroll down just a bit, you’ll see all of our programs, even our Hispanic podcast, Cristianos de Elis, with our friend and brother, Marlon Ratana, of SpanishBibleSchool.org. How thankful we are for every opportunity to speak the oracles of God, 1 Peter 4.11, and to declare the counsel of God, as we note from Acts 20 and verse 27. Thank you always for joining us, and stay right here where you listen to International Gospel Hour. Now, our psalm cast takes us to the book of Psalms, of course, and Psalm 5. And as with many of our psalms, we will read a little and study a little. And we will begin in just a moment. But first, a few words from another tool that we have available from International Gospel Hour, and it’s free.
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Let’s begin with a little background from Psalm 5. David is the author of this psalm and
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Students have presented this and scholars in their study as a morning psalm, and they believe it goes with Psalm 3 and Psalm 4. A writer by the name of Phillips observed that they may have been written in the order of Psalm 3 one morning, Psalm 4 that evening, and Psalm 5 the next morning. Now, this is a devotional petition and prayer for protection against the enemies of David. It’s also known as an imprecatory psalm because the writer requests God’s punishment on the wicked. And we’ll see that in a moment, especially in verse 10. But for now, let’s read a little and study a little. As we begin with Psalm 5, let’s look at verses 1 through 3. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I will pray. My voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord. In the morning I will direct it to you, and I will look up. Oh, friends, look, O Lord, my King, my God, O Lord, the one to whom one prays. Let’s highlight a few words from verses 1 through 3. The word meditation here is found 20 times in the Bible. Three quarters of them are in the book of Psalms. God is not only able to listen to one’s words, but also the innermost thoughts that at times they are too hard to be uttered, Oh, I think of the assurance of Romans 8, 26-27. Likewise, the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. How about the word king? We noted that moments ago from verse 2. David the psalmist is a king, and yet he is making a cry and a plea unto the king. Oh, friends, how we wish our political leaders worldwide would call unto God Almighty in prayer with such fervency. 1 Timothy 2, verses 1 and 2, Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks may be made for all men, for kings, and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. What about the word mourning? When one awakens, the first thing should be a prayer of thanksgiving to God, to thank, to praise, and to glorify Him. The late Brother Winford Clark penned, This prayer would be heard in the morning, that means every morning. David was not a one-hit wonder in his prayer life. He continually and constantly brought his pleas to his father. Wonderful pattern as well in 1 Thessalonians 5.23. What about the word direct? You know, you shall hear my voice, I will direct it to you. Our friend and brother Rob Whitaker notes the following, how this word means to set things in order. And that word direct is used to describe the placing of the pieces of the animal sacrifice in order on the altar, Leviticus 1.8. And to describe the arranging of the wood on the altar, Genesis 22.9. And used to describe the setting of a meal before a guest, Psalm 23 and verse 5. So when we direct our prayer to God, we lay it in order. Oh, friends, what power to the one to whom one prays God Almighty. Number two, let’s look at the one to whom one praises. Verses four through six. For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood. The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. So we praise God for His goodness and His stand against wrong and wrongdoers. But now keep in mind, though, before one speaks to others to God, or before one speaks about others to God, one must be certain one is standing faithfully before God. Now we know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God and doeth his will, him he hears. John 9, 31. And if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Psalm 66, 18. Now we see the one to whom one prays, the one to whom one praises. What about the one to whom one presents? Verses 7 and 8. But as for me, I will come into your house in the multitude of your mercy. In fear of you, I will worship toward your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, or I will be led, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face. Well, friends, that’s a quick summary of verses 7 and 8. Because of God’s mercy, one will come, one will worship, one will be led, one presents himself to the one almighty God. Here’s the fourth one. Verses 9 and 10, the one to whom one pleads. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth, their inward part is destruction, their throat is an open tomb, they flatter with their tongue, pronounce them guilty, O God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you. They are deprived of faithfulness, and ahead is destruction. Their proclamation of evil will result in the Lord pronouncing them of their guilt and sin. And turning against God results in them being turned away. Thus, friends, here is the imprecatory part of the prayer. A prayer when an appeal is made to the wrath of God, not for vengeance, but because of sinful living. There are a number of other psalms that are imprecatory, such as Psalm 12, 35, 79, 83, and others. Here’s the last one. The one to whom one is protected. Verses 11 and 12. But let all those rejoice who put their trust in you. Let them ever shout for joy because you defend them. Let those also who love your name be joyful in you. For you, O Lord, will bless the righteous. With favor you will surround him as with a shield. People that put their trust in God. Does that not parallel Proverbs 3, 5, and 6? Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will straighten your paths. What about the ones he defends? How he will bless the righteous. 1 Peter 3 and verse 12. But the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous. His ears are open unto their prayers. And the face of the Lord is against them that will do evil. Much rejoicing for the one that prays to God. Rejoice, joy, joyful. Friends, let’s think for a moment. Of all we presented, would we not want to be righteous before God? Very quickly, here is our J-Web with our free Bible course by mail.
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SPEAKER 01 :
Oh, dear friends, our Psalm 5 study today, the one to whom one prays, and the one to whom one praises, the one to whom one presents, to whom one please, and to one who is protected. To God be the glory. Let’s study together at another time, shall we? Thank you for joining me today on the Psalmcast of the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.
