Day 5 of Searching the Psalms

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can

learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly.




Psalm 5 (NLT)



1 O Lord, hear me as I pray;
    pay attention to my groaning.
2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
    for I pray to no one but you.
3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
    Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

4 O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; 
you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.
5 Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, 
for you hate all who do evil.
6 You will destroy those who tell lies.  
The Lord detests murderers and deceivers.

7 Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; 
I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.
8 Lead me in the right path, O Lord, 
    or my enemies will conquer me.
Make your way plain for me to follow.

9 My enemies cannot speak a truthful word.
    Their deepest desire is to destroy others.
Their talk is foul, 
like the stench from an open grave.
    Their tongues are filled with flattery.
10 O God, declare them guilty.
    Let them be caught in their own traps.
Drive them away because of their many sins,
    for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
    that all who love your name may be filled with joy.
12 For you bless the godly, O Lord;
    you surround them with your shield of love.

 

 

Comments

  1. The Vellenga FamilyAugust 5, 2020 at 9:09 AM

    The MSG names the wicked as "hot-air-boasters, mischief-makers, lie-speakers, blood-thirsty, and truth-benders". I can't help but think of the state of our country and government, left or right when I read these verses. At this point in my life I claim no "side" in our political realm, but am feeling strongly that we need to pray for God to intervene in our country, in each pandemic we are facing, as it seems evil is in control on all sides. As I make my decisions for voting, or as I read the news about these pandemics, I have a renewed call to find and seek God.
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brad ArnoldAugust 5, 2020 at 1:22 PM

    Wow, this is great Peter and Kim! Thank you, we appreciate you sharing the Message version and how you are living Psalm 5 today. Many blessings on your family!

    ReplyDelete
  3. KathleenAugust 5, 2020 at 5:17 PM

    This is a hard psalm (Douay or KJV) for me. It's one of those ones that in my youth I did not like because it seemed to be asking God to rain fire and brimstone on the wicked, deceitful, unjust and liars, erstwhile giving myself a pat on the back for my faithful worship.The psalmist does state his own need for mercy doesn't seem to want to enumerate his own sins...a common human frailty.

    The last two verses give reason for hope, but it's hard for me to get over the other "stuff".

    As I rise for the day, I sign a cross with my thumb on my lips and murmur the words, "Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim Thy praise." (from psalm 51). I say this not as a declarative statement but more like a plea. That is, "Lord, You have given me another day, please help my words to truly proclaim Your goodness to those to whom I speak." I wish I could say that my words always do, but 7-8 out of 10 times, I think they don't. Maybe if 7-8 out of 10 times they did, I could really effect some change on all those wicked, deceitful, unjust, liars of the world. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brad ArnoldAugust 5, 2020 at 9:46 PM

      Yes, with you, Mom. Always appreciate your humility before God. And your honesty. Some psalms are "hard"

      Delete

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