Psalm 5

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God:
for unto Thee will I pray.

My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O LORD; 
in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, 
and will look up. 

For Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:
neither shall evil dwell with Thee.
The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing:
the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy:
and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple.

Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of my enemies;
make Thy way straight before my face.

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
their inward part is very wickedness;
their throat is an open sepulcher;
they flatter with their tongue.
Destroy thou them, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions;
for they have rebelled against Thee.

But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice:
let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them:
let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.

For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous;
with favor wilt Thou compass him as with a shield.

David, the writer of this psalm, was in great trouble and surrounded by enemies who sought his life. Under such circumstances, it could have been very easy to fret and scheme, without a single thought of looking to God for help. If it were me, I may even have been afraid to fall asleep at night, lest it give my enemy the advantage. But David was not like that. He was literally running for his life, but he took his time and looked up to God, asking Him to protect and guide him. “My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” This sounds like a man who had perfect peace in the midst of his storm. Sure, he was afraid. Who wouldn’t be? But he trusted in the Lord. God had already told David that he would be king, so he knew that one way or another, he would be safe, because God has never failed in any of His promises.

This psalm is very encouraging to me as I spend time with my Lord each morning. I am not hiding from men who wish me dead, but I am in a spiritual warfare with the devil who seeks to destroy my credibility if not my life. Nevertheless, God has made it quite clear to me that He has a plan and a purpose for my life, and I know that nothing can happen to me until He is finished. Not only that, but the devil is already defeated. He may have a long leash, but he only has a short time to run on it.

I have put my trust in God; I look up and rejoice.
To tell of all His praise, I gladly lift my voice.
For He is my Defense, my Comforter, my Guide,
My Shelter from the enemy; in Him I shall abide.

Copyright © 2017 Angela Umphers Rueger – All Rights Reserved
Photo taken in Milton, Florida, 2017