Psalm 5 explained: A Morning Prayer Against Liars

A cry at daybreak (vv. 1-3)

The writer asks God, whom he calls his King and his God, to listen closely to his words and his sighing. Each morning he lays out his requests, a phrase that may picture setting things in order like an offering, and then watches for an answer.

God does not side with evil (vv. 4-6)

He grounds his hope in who God is: God takes no pleasure in wrong, so the arrogant, the liars and the violent have no place with him. The psalm says bluntly that God hates those who do wrong, and it does not stop to explain or soften that.

Coming in by loyal love (v. 7)

In contrast, the writer says he can come into God's house, the place of worship, by God's great and loyal love. He bows in awe toward the holy temple, which probably means facing the sacred inner room from outside it.

Enemies with deadly words (vv. 8-10)

He asks God to make his path clear and straight because of enemies whose words cannot be trusted, whose throat is like an open grave, and whose tongues flatter. He then asks God to declare them guilty and let their own schemes bring them down, a harsh plea the psalm makes no attempt to soften.

Shelter for those who trust (vv. 11-12)

The prayer widens to everyone who runs to God for safety, asking that they be glad and protected. God's favor is pictured as a shield that surrounds a person on every side.

Key verse: Psalm 5:3

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on how to read the statement that God hates wrongdoers (v. 5) and the plea against enemies (v. 10): some take them as honest cries for justice against real evil, while others feel they must be read through Jesus' command to love and pray for enemies.

Something to think about

When someone has lied about you or worked against you, what do you honestly want to happen to them, and would you be willing to say it out loud?