Psalm 5

Psalm 5 (NRSV)
Psalm 5
Trust in God for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.
1 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
give heed to my sighing.
2 Listen to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil will not sojourn with you.
5 The boastful will not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.
7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house,
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in awe of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.

Lord,
I confess, I tend to be a scarcity person. My parents were children of the depression and I am the child of humble financial resources. The most used words in my house were, “We can’t afford it.” The word “abundance” has come late to me.

The poet rejoices in “the abundance of your steadfast love.” Lord, I’ve known a soul or two who had an abundance of things and experienced a scarcity of love, first from family and friends and, almost by default, never absorbed the abundance of your love. Theirs is the harder lot in life.

Lord, please help all who have never absorbed your love and therefore have never known how loveable they are. Please help me when I ignore your love or forget how you love me. Your love is the beginning and end of every form of grace and goodness. It is the foundation of all that is courageous and righteous. It is the source of all genuine integrity and morality. Knowing your love, being filled with your love is the ground of all salvation.

Fill me with your love. I know that it’s not something to be absorbed and kept. So let me be a conduit of your love, a transmitter of your love for the world. I’ve learned, though I often forget, that as I give your love away, like the mighty river Mississippi, there is always more coming.

And remind me this day of the great love that you gave us in Jesus Christ, the ultimate revelation of your love and grace. Thank you. Thank you.

Ask God to help you to absorb God’s love now. Try to sit quietly with a full awareness of that love.
Pray for those who need fresh experiences of God’s love.
Say “thank you” to God for at least 5 things.

In Christ’s name.
Amen.

9 For there is no truth in their mouths;
their hearts are destruction;
their throats are open graves;
they flatter with their tongues.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of their many transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
so that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover them with favor as with a shield.
[1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989