December 8, 2008 Psalm 5

A Morning Prayer for Protection
"Lord, listen to my words. Understand my sadness. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, because I pray to you. Lord, every morning you hear my voice. Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer. You are not a God who is pleased with the wicked; you do not live with those who do evil. Those people who make fun of you cannot stand before you. You hate all those who do evil. You destroy liars; the Lord hates those who kill and trick others. Because of your great love, I can come into your Temple. Because I fear and respect you, I can worship in your holy Temple. Lord, since I have many enemies, show me the right thing to do. Show me clearly how you want me to live. My enemies' mouths do not tell the truth; in their hearts they want to destroy others. Their throats are like open graves; they use their tongues for telling lies. God, declare them guilty! Let them fall into their own traps. Send them away because their sins are many; they have turned against you. But let everyone who trusts you be happy; let them sing glad songs forever. Protect those who love you and who are happy because of you. Lord, you bless those who do what is right; you protect them like a soldier's shield. -Psalm 5-

This passage is a song from David to the Lord with flutes. David comes to God in the morning for strength and joy to make it throughout the day.

In this passage, David passionately asks God to listen to his voice...first thing in his morning, by starting off his prayer by directing the prayer, then ending it by looking up in expectancy to Heaven.

He distinguishes the acts of the wicked, the evil, the ungodly...versus the acts of the righteous who earn that righteousness from God, the merciful. The righteous do not become righteous on their own, but by loving and believing/trusting in the merciful God, they receive the righteousness. Unlike the wicked/ungodly, who will serve for their unrighteousness, we, those who believe in His name, will be protected and blessed. We have God's shield...the shelter of heaven!!!