A Morning Prayer for Guidance and Protection (Psalm 5) | Matthew Henry

Deep Dive into Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume - Psalm 5Psalm 5 is presented as a prayer by David during a time of distress caused by his constant enemies. It serves not only as a personal appeal but also as guidance for others in prayer and is seen as prefiguring Christ's dependence on God and triumph over opposition.The psalm characterizes God as a prayer-hearing God whom David addresses as his King and God, confident that God will attend to his words and consider his meditations. Simultaneously, God is a sin-hating God who has no pleasure in wickedness and hates deceitful, lying, and cruel individuals—qualities attributed to David's enemies. This aspect of God's nature provides both a warning against sin for those who pray and assurance that the wicked will ultimately be destroyed.David makes resolutions for dedicated prayer and worship. He commits to praying, making it a business, particularly in the morning, directing his prayer with intentionality and waiting patiently for God's answer. He also resolves to worship God publicly in His house with reverence and fear, taking encouragement from God's infinite mercy and the means of worship (understood as pointing to Christ).The psalm describes David's enemies as fundamentally wicked, deceitful, and cruel, seen not just as personal foes but as rebels against God Himself.In his prayer, David appeals for God's guidance and preservation for himself, especially due to his enemies watching for his faults. He prays against these enemies, asking for their destruction based on their transgressions and rebellion. Finally, he prays for all the righteous, those who trust in God and love His name, asking that they may rejoice and be safe.Ultimately, the psalm shows God's people finding joy in God and being safe under the shield of His favour and protection. David's experience and prayer provide a model for the righteous in facing adversity, trusting in God's character, and anticipating His ultimate triumph and the security of His people.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed