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Psalms 5

12 verses

TL;DR

The psalm is a heartfelt morning prayer pleading for divine justice against wickedness and expressing confidence in God's protection and righteousness.

Summary

In Psalm 5 the speaker addresses the LORD as king and God, calling upon Him to hear his prayer in the morning. He acknowledges that God does not delight in wickedness, declaring that the foolish and deceitful will be destroyed. The psalmist expresses his devotion, promising to worship in the holy temple with reverence. He requests that God guide him and protect him from enemies, condemning those who boast of false faith. The psalm ends with a declaration of confidence that God will bless the righteous and protect them like a shield.

Outline
  1. Opening plea for God's attention and morning prayer
  2. Condemnation of wickedness and assurance of divine justice
  3. Commitment to worship and confidence in God's protection
Themes
Divine justice against wickednessPersonal devotion and worshipFaith in God's protective care
Keywords
listenprayerwickednessjusticerighteousnessshieldfaithfulness
People
the LORD
Places
householy temple
Things
morning prayerrighteousnessfaithfulnessjusticeshield
Key Verses
  • Psalms 5:4: declares that God does not delight in wickedness
  • Psalms 5:9: condemns those with false faith and open corruption
  • Psalms 5:12: assures that God will bless and protect the righteous
Questions
  • How does the psalmist’s view of God’s justice influence his trust in divine protection?
  • In what ways does the psalm balance complaint about enemies with confidence in God’s blessing?
  • What does the repeated mention of the “morning” suggest about the rhythm and timing of prayer?
  • How might the image of God as a shield shape our understanding of divine protection?
  • What practical steps can we take to emulate the psalmist’s faithfulness in the face of adversity?
Sentiment

mixed
the psalm expresses both complaint against wickedness and confidence in divine protection