Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart: https://sothrichfield.podbean.com
Psalm 5 (ESV)
Lead Me in Your Righteousness
To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.
5 Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. 2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God,
for to you do I pray. 3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. 4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. 6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. 7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear 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 mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their 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, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. 12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Why does David plead for mercy one minute and justice the next?
Precious Father, each morning you listen to my prayers, as I bring my requests to you and wait for direction. There is something special about beginning my day by laying my burdens before You. Let me cultivate a spirit of prayer which is even better than the habit of prayer. Help me not to rush into Your presence without forethought or humility. Holy God, consider my meditation. I come to you with deep anxiety and concern about the evil, hatred, and injustice in this world. I fear for a future without You in this world so much that I cannot even find the words, but You understand my feelings more than what I can express in words. David would direct his prayer to You and look up; not down to the corrupt world. He understood Your power to grant mercy on the heart and to bring justice to the world. Lord, I look up to You and present my prayers at Your feet as a morning sacrifice. Lead Me in Your Righteousness. Grant requests that are within Your will and if I have omitted to ask for things I need the most, please fill in the gaps in my prayer for me. Spread your protection over me and those who are faithful to You. Surround us with your favor as with a shield. Provide justice to the unjust. As I pray fervently, and in faith, I have reason to hope, You are my only object of worship: the only resource of my soul in times of need. My faith in You fills my soul with expectation. I trust in Your grace, mercy, and perfect justice. Amen