Psalm 5: God shelters those who take refuge in Him
Today’s psalm is even more amazing to me than yesterday’s, because it’s even more relevant to my current situation. There is no other conclusion to reach other than God is speaking to me through these verses. I mentioned yesterday how I’m going through some very trying times right now, and I wanted to share the following verses with you. They describe my situation to a T:
“In your saving justice, Yahweh, lead me, because of those who lie in wait for me; make your way plain before me. Not a word from their lips can be trusted, through and through they are destruction, their throats are wide-open graves, their tongues seductive. Lay the guilt on them, God, make their intrigues their own downfall; for their countless offences, thrust them from you, since they have rebelled against you.”
If this psalm is so closely matched with my situation, it stands to reason that everything in it applies to me as well. Imagine my joy when I read verses like:
“But joy for all who take refuge in you, endless songs of gladness! You shelter them, they rejoice in you, those who love your name. It is you who bless the upright, Yahweh, you surround them with favour as with a shield.”
I have nothing to fear! That is just wonderful news!
What comforts me even more is this verse:
“But, so great is your faithful love, I may come into your house, and before your holy temple bow down in reverence of you.”
I say this because, really, we’re all sinners. I’m a sinner too. I suppose from a human perspective we can look at it as varying degrees of evil, but to God, even the smallest sin is still sin, and it’s deserving of death. Everyone is guilty in God’s eyes. David writes: “no sinner can be [God's] guest”. Fortunately, God sees the heart of everyone, and knows their motives, and that is why I, while also a sinner, can dare approach Him with my requests and ask for “saving justice”, knowing that he will “surround [me] with favour as with a shield.”
Thank you, dear Lord, for taking pity on me!
