Psalm 5 - In the Morning

There is a rhythm to life and a rhythm to creation. The opening words of the Bible name God as the maker of all things. God didn’t create time to just go on and on. He created a world with order to it, a world with seasons and a world with day and night.

Reading on in through the book of Psalms it is striking how much anguish and dis-order form the backdrop against which these words were written, prayed and sung. Psalm 5 describes itself as a lament, a mournful calling to God in the midst of great pain. But even in this pain there is a steely-ness to David’s words. 

It’s not uncommon for people to pray to God in difficult times. Not unusual for people to ‘say a prayer’ or to call out for help. But David is different. He is praying to a God who he knows and names as my King and my God.

This is where David begins. In fact this is where David begins his day. 

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice.

In the morning I lay my requests before you

And wait expectantly.

Waiting can seem like the worst thing to do when there is bad news around us. We become frightened to wait, anxious about what the next piece of news will be. So how can David possibly wait with expectation? What does he expect as he looks out into another day?

David expects a personal experience of God’s ‘great love’ (vs 7), of His ‘leading’ (vs 8), and of His 'shielding' (vs 12). Those who are arrogant (vs 5) hope only in themselves and in troubled times such arrogance becomes proves to be empty and worthless. David has found another way.

Pause for 

The image of God as a ‘refuge’ is used over 40 times in the Psalms. This is where David places himself at the beginning of another day. So he steps into the day not just secure but singing for joy (vs 11). How might this image be an encouragement to you today?