Psa 5:2 | KingComments | STEP | Psalm 5 is a night prayer. The situation for the remnant is getting worse because the antichrist, the man of bloodshed and deceit ( ), has come to power. Also, it is a morning prayer because the psalmist submits his concerns to the LORD in the morning ( ). In this psalm, the remnant expresses confidence that the LORD will overthrow the government of the antichrist ( ). They then pray for guidance in dark days ( ) and the extermination of the followers of the antichrist ( ). For “for the choir director” see at Psalm 4:1. Unlike Psalm 4, which is “on stringed instruments” ( ), this psalm is suitable to be sung accompanied by “flute”. A flute, unlike a trumpet for example, is suited to evoke, display or accompany certain emotions. This can be joy ( ; ; ), but it can also be sorrow ( ; ). The flute seems to be the appropriate instrument here because it is precisely this instrument that can render and accompany the groaning of which David speaks in . For “a Psalm of David” see at Psalm 3:1. David addresses the LORD directly with “words” and “groaning” ( ), with a “cry for help” and “prayer” ( ). He asks Him to give “ear” to the “words” with which he cries out to Him ( ). He is in distress, as evidenced by his urgent appeal that God gives “ear” to his “words”, and “considers” his “groaning”. He wants to speak to God about his distress. Therefore he approaches Him in prayer. After all, there is no one else with whom he can or wants to speak about this. He also asks the LORD to pay attention to his groaning. Groaning can be done inaudibly. The burdened soul then has no words, but asks God to pay attention to it anyway. God can reach our deepest feelings, He knows them. If we groan because we have no words to express what bothers us, He knows what we want to say. It reaches Him. We may know that the Holy Spirit gives words to our sighs ( ). Again, David emphatically asks God to heed his voice when he cries out ( ). He addresses God in the awareness of the personal relationship he has with Him. He calls Him “my King and my God”. He calls the LORD here both King and God. In Psalm 2 he calls the Son of God King ( ). This indicates that the Son, Who is King, is Himself God. He is “the King of the ages” ( ). God is always King, even then when His anointed king, David, has been removed from the throne and someone who has no right to it has taken his seat on that throne. Having expressed his personal relationship to God in , in he no longer asks if the LORD will listen ( ), but expresses the certainty that the LORD will. In the morning, God hears his voice. Morning is the time when the daily morning burnt offering is brought ( ). This reminds us that we may draw near to God on the basis of the sacrifice of His Son. David does not pray occasionally, but “in the morning”, that is, every morning. As soon as he is awake, he seeks God in prayer. This is an important example for us. It is good, as soon as we are awake, to turn first to God, that our first words be to and for Him. In our foolishness we often seek Him last, only when we see no other way out. David also says that he “orders” his prayer to God. The verb “order” is also used for arranging or ordering the wood and parts of the sacrifice on the altar ( ; ). This gives his morning prayer the character of a morning burnt offering (cf. ). After his prayer, he looks forward to God’s answer (cf. ; ). This demonstrates his trust in Him. That trust is also echoed in the words “for to You I pray” at the end of . By this he is saying that he prays to the LORD as the one true God. He prays only to Him and not to anyone else. These words are the motivation for him to pray. It means that he bases his request on the faithfulness of God to His covenant and promise. Our prayer is based on the faithfulness of God ( ) to the work of Christ on the cross, that is, on the basis of the blood of the new covenant.

‏ Psalms 5:2

Introduction

Psalm 5 is a night prayer. The situation for the remnant is getting worse because the antichrist, the man of bloodshed and deceit (Psa 5:6), has come to power. Also, it is a morning prayer because the psalmist submits his concerns to the LORD in the morning (Psa 5:3).

In this psalm, the remnant expresses confidence that the LORD will overthrow the government of the antichrist (Psa 5:1b-7). They then pray for guidance in dark days (Psa 5:8-9) and the extermination of the followers of the antichrist (Psa 5:10).

Prayer for Help

For “for the choir director” see at Psalm 4:1.

Unlike Psalm 4, which is “on stringed instruments” (Psa 4:1a), this psalm is suitable to be sung accompanied by “flute”. A flute, unlike a trumpet for example, is suited to evoke, display or accompany certain emotions. This can be joy (Isa 30:29; Eze 28:13; Mt 11:17), but it can also be sorrow (Jer 48:36; Mt 9:23). The flute seems to be the appropriate instrument here because it is precisely this instrument that can render and accompany the groaning of which David speaks in Psa 5:1b.

For “a Psalm of David” see at Psalm 3:1.

David addresses the LORD directly with “words” and “groaning” (Psa 5:1b), with a “cry for help” and “prayer” (Psa 5:2). He asks Him to give “ear” to the “words” with which he cries out to Him (Psa 5:1b). He is in distress, as evidenced by his urgent appeal that God gives “ear” to his “words”, and “considers” his “groaning”.

He wants to speak to God about his distress. Therefore he approaches Him in prayer. After all, there is no one else with whom he can or wants to speak about this. He also asks the LORD to pay attention to his groaning. Groaning can be done inaudibly. The burdened soul then has no words, but asks God to pay attention to it anyway.

God can reach our deepest feelings, He knows them. If we groan because we have no words to express what bothers us, He knows what we want to say. It reaches Him. We may know that the Holy Spirit gives words to our sighs (Rom 8:26).

Again, David emphatically asks God to heed his voice when he cries out (Psa 5:2). He addresses God in the awareness of the personal relationship he has with Him. He calls Him “my King and my God”. He calls the LORD here both King and God. In Psalm 2 he calls the Son of God King (Psa 2:6-7). This indicates that the Son, Who is King, is Himself God. He is “the King of the ages” (1Tim 1:17). God is always King, even then when His anointed king, David, has been removed from the throne and someone who has no right to it has taken his seat on that throne.

Having expressed his personal relationship to God in Psa 5:2, in Psa 5:3 he no longer asks if the LORD will listen (Psa 5:1b), but expresses the certainty that the LORD will. In the morning, God hears his voice. Morning is the time when the daily morning burnt offering is brought (Exo 29:39). This reminds us that we may draw near to God on the basis of the sacrifice of His Son.

David does not pray occasionally, but “in the morning”, that is, every morning. As soon as he is awake, he seeks God in prayer. This is an important example for us. It is good, as soon as we are awake, to turn first to God, that our first words be to and for Him. In our foolishness we often seek Him last, only when we see no other way out.

David also says that he “orders” his prayer to God. The verb “order” is also used for arranging or ordering the wood and parts of the sacrifice on the altar (Gen 22:9; Lev 1:7). This gives his morning prayer the character of a morning burnt offering (cf. Psa 141:2).

After his prayer, he looks forward to God’s answer (cf. Mic 7:7; Hab 2:1). This demonstrates his trust in Him. That trust is also echoed in the words “for to You I pray” at the end of Psa 5:2. By this he is saying that he prays to the LORD as the one true God. He prays only to Him and not to anyone else.

These words are the motivation for him to pray. It means that he bases his request on the faithfulness of God to His covenant and promise. Our prayer is based on the faithfulness of God (1Jn 1:9) to the work of Christ on the cross, that is, on the basis of the blood of the new covenant.