Now that we’ve looked at what Psalm 5 says, let’s consider what it means. Psalm 5 can be broken down into three parts – prayer, worship and praise – with reference to the surrounding anti-God environment in which the psalmist was living.
It’s amazing how often believers blame their environment for not making time for prayer, worship and praise. Why do we focus on those who oppose God and us? God can take care of them, and will: “You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong. You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the Lord abhors” (verses 4-6).
It seems that though the psalmist believed this he was concerned about the threat of these arrogant God haters. That’s why he prayed earnestly for God to come to his aid and waited in expectation for God to act. That’s how he started each day – seeking God to sustain him as he went out into a hostile environment and expecting God to do this.
Having addressed this need and committing it to God, he then turns to God in worship. He begins by affirming God’s mercy as the basis for his acceptance into God’s presence. When he comes into God’s presence it’s with reverence and humility.
Then, it seems as though he is distracted by thoughts of his enemies, and switches into prayer, asking God to lead him in righteousness. In other words, he started right in the morning by praying for God’s help, and throughout the day kept that focus in his walk with God.
