With the recent release of “Refuge”, Psalm 5 has been on my mind. After reading it again, there is a reflection that stands out that I would like to share.
When the Psalmist sings
3 In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;
Psalm 5:3
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
He immediately follows it up with
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.
Psalm 5:4-6
What is remarkable is that the Psalmist’s eager expectation is not based on a trade deal with God. Instead, the Psalmist eagerly watches because of who God is.
How many times do we try to strike a deal with God, saying something like “God, if you do this for me then I’ll never do (enter random sin, questionable action, or distracting hobby here) again!”.
Praise the Lord that He answers prayers in accordance with His character and not in submission to my misguided demands! He knows that trade deals, like the one above, lead to both parties being disappointed. Not only would we not get what is best for us, since we rarely ask for that which is best, but the odds are we would also go back on our word, making us a “speaker of falsehood” (which does not mesh well with verse 6).
Instead, the Psalmist eagerly waits because he knows that he is praying to a holy, good, powerful, and just God and no evil will stand against Him! The more the Psalmist knows God the more sure his hope is.
So if you’re in the middle of some tough times take hope, not in your own striving, past deeds, or questionable future, but take hope in knowing who God is and what He has done through Christ. It is in knowing God as our loving father that we find our refuge.
One thought on “Reflections on Psalm 5”