For the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments; a psalm of David. 

 

This psalm was a prayer of David when he was exposed to danger by unscrupulous enemies.

 

5:1 Listen to what I say, Lord! Carefully consider my complaint! 

 

David asked Jehovah to listen to his complaint.

 

5:2 Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God, for I am praying to you! 

 

David asked Jehovah to pay attention to his cry for help. He addressed God as his king and his God.

 

5:3 Lord, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer. 

 

David prayed in the morning and expected an answer from God.

 

5:4 Certainly you are not a God who approves of evil; evil people cannot dwell with you. 

 

God hates evil. Evil people cannot dwell in heaven with God. God has prepared a special place for evil people.

 

5:5 Arrogant people cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who behave wickedly. 

 

Arrogant people are those who elevate their human opinion above the Word of God. They cannot stand in Jehovah’s presence. They will bow their knee to the God of the universe. God hates their arrogant attitude and their evil behavior.

 

5:6 You destroy liars; the Lord despises violent and deceitful people. 

 

Jehovah destroys liars. He despises violent and deceitful people.

 

5:7 But as for me, because of your great faithfulness I will enter your house; I will bow down toward your holy temple as I worship you. 

 

The Hebrew word for “faithfulness” is חָ֫סֶד (hesed), meaning loyal love. David can enter the presence of the Lord, because Jehovah posses a חָ֫סֶד (hesed) love for David.

 

David bowed down toward God’s “holy temple.” The temple was not built in David’s day, so many critics who do not know the Hebrew language point this out as a Bible error. However, the Hebrew word for “temple” is הֵיכָל (hikal), meaning temple or tabernacle. This same Hebrew word was used as “tabernacle” in 1 Samuel 1:9, because the temple was not built in Samuel’s day. 

 

The Hebrew word for “worship” is שָׁחָה, (shachach) meaning to bow down and prostrate oneself face down on the ground. The arrogant flaunt their human opinion above the Word of God, but the humble prostrate themselves face down on the ground before a holy and righteous God.

 

5:8 Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of those who wait to ambush me, remove the obstacles in the way in which you are guiding me! 

 

David asked Jehovah to lead him in God’s righteousness. David possessed enemies who wanted to ambush him and kill him. Satan wanted David eliminated off of this earth. David asked Jehovah to remove the obstacles in his life so that he could travel down the clear path in which Jehovah was leading him.

 

5:9 For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it. 

 

David’s enemies were not speaking the truth to David. They were telling him lies in order to bring him down. They were feeding their stomachs daily so that they could do harm to David. Their throats were like an open grave, because their words were used to injure David. Their tongues were a steep slope, because they were using flattery to bring David to his death. 

 

5:10 Condemn them, O God! May their own schemes be their downfall! Drive them away because of their many acts of insurrection, for they have rebelled against you. 

 

David asked God to condemn his enemies. He asked God to cause their own schemes to backfire on them and bring them down. David asked God to drive them away because of their insurrection. David was an anointed king of God who carried the messianic seed. Anyone who attempted to kill David was going against the will of God.

 

5:11 But may all who take shelter in you be happy! May they continually shout for joy! Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice! 

 

God is man’s only shelter against the onslaughts of the satanic world system. Those who shelter in God will be persecuted, but they will live a happy life. God will shelter the believer as long as he is living and producing in the will of God. Once a man refuses to perform God’s task, or once a man has completed God’s task, then God will bring him home.

 

5:12 Certainly you reward the godly, Lord. Like a shield you protect them in your good favor. 

 

Jehovah will reward those who are godly. Godly ones are those who master and apply Bible doctrine. Jehovah will shield His godly ones so that they can perform the task in which God has given them.