David finishes his morning prayer in this last block of scripture in Psalm 5 with a request for guidance as he desires to follow God’s way’s in the midst of the challenges he faced with his adversaries, “Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness……….make your way straight for me.” Like David, when we are confronted with difficult circumstances, the central desire of our hearts should be that God leads us. His our light and strength…….the only way we will be able to see our way through, that results in his glorification and our deliverance, thus, “You word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105). If we seek after God’s guidance as David, we shall not stumble and injure ourselves over what we cannot see hiding in the dark places in our lives. Jesus exhorts, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12). God’s truth illuminates his will and fans away the perpetual fog of lies and self-deception that surrounds us.
In v10, David begins to list sinful attributes of the wicked. They used lies that grew from a heart of deceit……words dripping with honey (i.e. flattery), because they had malicious intent. Their mouths ultimately brought death, thus, “their throat is an open grave.” David entreats God to hold them accountable. Likewise, we entrust all judgment to the Son (Jn 5:22), which frees us to pray for the souls of our adversaries that repentance might be granted them by God. Paul reinforces this truth when he instructs Timothy on the disposition he is to have with those who were enemies of the cross of Christ, “And the Lord servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, (25) correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, (26) and they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Tim 2:24-25). Remember, those who strive against righteous are blinded to what they are doing and cannot see the glory of Christ unless God himself removes the veil that covers their eyes (2 Cor 4:3-4). One way to motivate us to pray for such people is to remember that we “used to be” as they are (children of wrath) and it is God who rescued us and made us righteous. The only thing you and I contributed to our redemption is our sin.
Now David closes his prayer with word that should encourage us all in seasons of trial:
- God’s refuge produces rejoicing. A refuge does not remove us from a storm, but preserve our lives in the midst of it much like a bomb or tornado shelter. Why do we rejoice when God spreads his protection over us as a shield? It is not because we have earned it, but rather he gives it to his children out of love. His refuge is constructed and strengthened with his mercy that is enduring. We “sing for joy” as David states because we agree in our hearts with the Psalmist about God, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. (15) Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: ‘The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, (16) the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!’” (Ps 118:14-16). Remember, God’s mercy shelters us even when we have as poor attitude toward those God endeavors to save as he does us (cf. Jonah 4:1-7).
- God’s refuge covers us with favor. David says, “…you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” When God shows his people favor, it is an act of grace. David realized that God’s willingness to shelter him in trial was an expression of his kindness because of who he was in the eyes of God (his anointed); rather than a reward for how he lived. Remember, grace is never earned. If it is something we are owed, it ceases from being grace. Favor’s operation in our lives is most visible when we are confronted with adversity. It is something God extends to his people who know his name. Isaiah illustrates God’s favor in this way, “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (Isa 58:11). Solomon adds, “He is like a tree planted by the streams of water that yield its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all he does, he prospers” (Prv 1:3). The key meaning is this: It is God who establishes us, roots us in him, and makes it possible for us to bear his desired fruit. This is what favor looks like.
God’s favor always reveals his heart and glorifies him. In contrast, favor from man glorifies himself which reflects our emptiness, hopelessness, and inability to deliver ourselves from life’s storms. This is why God favor is a blessing to the righteous because as David puts it, we are, “…those who love your name…” and exalt in God. Amen.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com