In The Word
Read: Psalm 5
Prayer for Protection from the Wicked.
For the choir director; for flute accompaniment. A Psalm of David.
5 Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my groaning.
2 Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
3 In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
7 But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.
8 O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes;
Make Your way straight before me.
9 There is nothing reliable in what they say;
Their inward part is destruction itself.
Their throat is an open grave;
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Hold them guilty, O God;
By their own devices let them fall!
In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out,
For they are rebellious against You.
11 But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
David needed a place to hide. His enemies were great, but his personal groaning was even greater. It was David’s desire and need for the Lord to hear his cry. Not just the cry of his voice, but the cry of his heart. The king needed direction. Who better to direct him than God? No one knew his situation better than God. No one could come to his rescue or deliver him from the wicked that surrounded him better than God. It was in the Lord of the righteous that David sought shelter.
We all, from time to time, find ourselves where David was. Life can seem to be overwhelming, and words can’t describe what is in our heart. Where do we run? The righteous run to God. We seek the direction and safety of the One who will deliver us. “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber” (Psalm 121:2-3).
God is the refuge of the righteous. He is the One we run to in our time of need. He is the One who can hear the cry of our hearts. He is our Protector and our hiding place. No matter where you are or what you are going through, God is able to deliver. Run to Him, and He will hide you in His strength and in His love.