Psalm 5: Give ear to my words O LORD
Jeff Lowe: lead vocal, backing vocals, guitars, keys
Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
My King and my God,
To you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD,
You hear my voice;
In the morning I lay my requests all before you.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
And I wait in expectation.
For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
Surely O LORD you bless the righteous.
You surround them with your favour
As a shield, as a shield.
You are not a God
Who takes pleasure in evil:
With you the wicked cannot dwell.
The arrogant cannot stand in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong.
You destroy all those who tell lies;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men
The LORD abhors.
But I, in your great mercy,
Will come into your house;
In reverence, bow down towards your holy temple.
Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies
Make straight your way before me.
For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
Surely O LORD you bless the righteous.
You surround them with your favour
As a shield, as a shield.
Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
Their heart is filled with destruction.
Their throat is an open grave;
With their tongue they speak deceit.
Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
For they’ve rebelled against you.
But let all who take refuge
In you be glad;
Let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
That those who love your name May rejoice in you.
For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
Surely O LORD you bless the righteous.
You surround them with your favour
As a shield, as a shield.
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Comments
Those enemies again: The plotting terrorist planning his bomb attack; the honey-voiced TV personality expounding lies; the deranged bigot hating black or Jew, gay or immigrant; the street mugger ready to snatch an old ladies’ handbag or a young man’s phone; those neighbours from hell. It’s unfashionable to admit we have enemies. We believers are instructed to love our enemies, but not to deny they exist. And it’s wise to pray for God’s protection from them. King David’s enemies were particularly close and personal and were plotting his destruction. So while still on his bed he calls on God to hear his prayers and cries for help and deliverance. For he knows God delivers the godly. It’s as if he surrounds them with a sort of wrap-around shield. And also David knows that, unless they repent, the ultimate end of bloodthirsty and deceitful men is their banishment from God and all the good things he supplies. In the meantime, we can find security and strength in the sure knowledge that God will bless and protect the righteous. We who love Jesus can truly sing for joy, feeling his protective shield around us.