Notes On Psalm 5 - Bible Studies 1964

by John Miller | Category: Voices From The Past | May 1996

Is it any wonder that the Babylonish captivity followed this behaviour, and many trudged the long, long way east to Babylon, never more to return again to their land, but to die in Babylon? It is sad, sad, but 2 Chronicles 36:16 tells us that there was no remedy for the state of things in Judah and Jerusalem. The disease of backsliding had got too great a hold upon God's people. How different it was with David the man who brought about revival in Israel as never any other man did! David was a worshipper, and he was humble enough to be led by God and not to walk in a way of his own choosing, for well he knew that in God's leading there was safety. He says in this psalm,

Lead me, 0 LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; Make Thy way plain before my face (v.8).

An unwary step and David might have landed' in the cruel hands of Saul. He returns again to a further description of the evil doers whose characteristics were those of unfaithfulness, wickedness; their throat was an open sepulchre, and they were flatterers, a breed that it is well to avoid, who play upon the flesh of their victims with words that they do not mean. Paul borrows from the words of David here in Romans 3:13, when he lays the charge against all, that all are under sin.

David calls on God to hold them guilty, to let them fall by their own counsels (purpose or device), in a word, they were to fall into the pit that they digged for others. They were to be thrust out in the multitude of their transgressions (not as in Psalm 103:12, to have their transgressions removed from them as far as the east is from the west). The cause of this was because they had rebelled against God.

Those who made God their trust were to rejoice, because God defended them (how much David had known this!), and those that loved God were to be joyful in Him. David ends the psalm in a joyful note, for he was assured that the Lord would bless the righteous, and compass him about with favour as with a shield. What a blessing the blessing of God's grace is! It is suited in its variety to every circumstance and every danger in the believer's life.

John Miller | May 1996
Voices From The Past