Psalm 5

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.
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.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 5:7a)

What a privilege, Lord, to come before You, to draw near to Your presence, to enter Your house. The freedom I have to approach You is one of life's most precious treasures. Yet it's nothing I've earned or deserve. The invitation to come before You is given only through the abundance of Your steadfast love. It's a matter of mercy, of grace, of Your great faithfulness. Because of what You have done through Christ, our Great High Priest and once-for-all sacrifice, I can come before you with confidence, even with boldness. What a wonder! Thank You, dear Lord, for Your steadfast love given to me so generously. How amazing You are! Amen.

(See also Hebrews 4:14-16; 9:12)

Postscript

"It is only through the goodness of God that we have access to him . . . [Nobody] prays aright but he who, having experienced his grace, believes and is fully persuaded that he will be merciful to him."

John Calvin, Commentary on the Psalms, note on Psalm 5:7 (trans. Henry Beveridge

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved