Moe Bergeron

Psalm 5 is a morning prayer. It is quiet but confident, reverent yet expectant. The psalmist rises early and brings his plea before the Lord, not with doubt, but with trust that God hears and will act. There is sorrow in the voice, but also clarity—a deep understanding that God does not delight in wickedness, yet welcomes the righteous into His presence.

These words, once whispered by David, find fuller voice in Christ. Jesus, the true Righteous One, prayed morning by morning (Isaiah 50:4). He approached the Father not as a sinner seeking mercy, but as the Beloved Son who delighted in doing His will. In Psalm 5, we are invited into that communion—boldly, but only by His righteousness.

Psalm 5:1–12 (Berean Standard Bible)

Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.
Attend to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to You I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I lay my plea before You
and wait in expectation.
For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
no evil can dwell with You.
The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
You destroy those who tell lies;
the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.
But I will enter Your house
by the abundance of Your loving devotion;
in reverence I will bow down
toward Your holy temple.
Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make straight Your way before me.
For not a word they speak can be trusted;
destruction lies within them.
Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.
Declare them guilty, O God;
let them fall by their own devices.
Drive them out for their many transgressions,
for they have rebelled against You.
But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them ever shout for joy.
May You shelter them,
that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.
For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous;
You surround him with favor
like a shield.

Christ, Our Righteous Advocate

This Psalm draws a sharp line: those who oppose God will not stand, but the righteous will dwell near Him. That raises a pressing question—who, then, can enter? David answers not by pointing to himself, but to God’s steadfast love: “By the abundance of Your loving devotion I will enter Your house.”

Jesus alone could enter by right, not by mercy. He never spoke deceit, never walked in rebellion, never acted with violence or pride. He is the only man who could stand before the holy God without fear. And yet, He chose to suffer for the wicked. The only innocent One bore the guilt of liars, murderers, and rebels—people like us.

Now, those who take refuge in Him are welcomed, not just as guests, but as sons and daughters. We come not on the strength of our devotion, but on the merit of Christ’s righteousness. He is the greater David who brings us into the house of God.

Surrounded With Favor

The final words of the Psalm offer a beautiful promise: “You surround him with favor like a shield.” This is not a flimsy hope—it is a divine guarantee. God Himself becomes the shield of the righteous.

Jesus trusted this shield when He walked through hostility and hatred. Though enemies surrounded Him, the Father upheld Him. Though the cross pierced Him, it did not overcome Him. And now, He is the shield for all who trust in Him.

We are not promised a life free from attack—but we are promised a shield that never fails. God’s favor, secured through Christ, encircles His people completely.

Reflection

Psalm 5 teaches us how to approach God: with reverence, honesty, and confident trust in His steadfast love. It also teaches us where to hide—in the righteousness of Christ, who opens the way into God’s presence.

Begin your day with His words in your mouth. Lay your requests before Him, and wait with expectation. He hears. He shelters. He surrounds.

Prayer

Father, You are holy and just, and yet You welcome me by Your steadfast love. I come not by my own worth, but through the righteousness of Your Son. Teach me to pray in the morning with faith, and to walk throughout the day under the shield of Your favor. Surround me, and lead me in Your righteousness. Amen.