Psalm 5:1-12
Morning Prayer
1For the choirmaster, to be accompanied by flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.
2Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.
3In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.
4For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You.
5The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all workers of iniquity.
6You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
7But I will enter Your house by the abundance of Your loving devotion; in reverence I will bow down toward Your holy temple.
8Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.
9For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.
10Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own devices. Drive them out for their many transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.
11But 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.
12For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; You surround them with the shield of Your favor.
Berean Standard Bible
David begins the day by asking God to hear his words and consider his groaning. He will pray in the morning and wait expectantly. The combination matters: prayer is not a speech meant to control God, and waiting is not indifference. David brings his request and leaves room for God's answer.
He contrasts the LORD's holiness with people who practice evil, deceit, and violence. The wicked cannot remain in God's presence, while the faithful person enters by God's abundant loving devotion and bows in reverence. David does not claim that his own goodness earns access. He comes because God's mercy makes a way.
The prayer asks for guidance because enemies are watching for a false step. Their mouths are graves, their tongues flatter, and their hearts are destructive. David asks God to let the wicked bear the consequences of their schemes and to protect those who take refuge in Him.
The closing picture is joy beneath God's favor. Those who love God's name rejoice because He blesses the righteous and surrounds them with favor like a shield. Protection here is personal care, not a guarantee that a faithful person will never be attacked.
Questions
1 What does David do in the morning?
AnswerHe brings his words and groaning to God, then waits expectantly for an answer.
2 Why does David approach God?
AnswerHe approaches through God's abundant loving devotion and in reverent worship, not because his own goodness obligates God.
3 What danger do David's enemies represent?
AnswerTheir deceitful speech and destructive intentions make the path dangerous, so David asks God to guide and protect him.
4 How does God surround the righteous?
AnswerHe surrounds them with favor like a shield, giving them His attentive care.
What This Means for Us
A morning prayer can hold both hope and groaning. We do not need to pretend the day is uncomplicated before bringing it to God. Ask for guidance, then leave enough quiet to notice where obedience is leading.
God's favor is not a badge of superiority. It is shelter that should make us more reverent, more truthful, and more compassionate toward people whose circumstances are not yet secure.
Prayer
Hear us, LORD, when the day begins with both hope and burden. Guide our steps away from deceit, receive our honest prayers, and surround us with the kind of favor that makes us faithful rather than proud. Amen.