Heading ‘For the chief musician, with the Nehiloth (wind instruments?). A psalm to/for David.' On behalf of the choirmaster and written by or dedicated to David. This psalm can be divided as follows: · The psalmist's plea to be heard (Psalms 5:1). · A description of those whom God rejects (Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Give ear to my words, O YHWH, Consider my meditation. Hearken to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, For to you do I pray. O YHWH in the morning you will hear my voice, In the morning I will order my prayer to you, and will keep watch.' This is an introductory plea for YHWH to hear his pr... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness, Evil will not sojourn with you, The arrogant will not stand in your sight, You hate all workers of iniquity, You will destroy him who speaks lies, YHWH abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.' This is why he is on the watch, so that he... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But as for me, in the multitude of your lovingkindness I will come into your house, In your fear I will worship towards your holy temple.' His own entry before God rests in his confidence in God's overwhelming lovingkindness (‘warm covenant love' - chesed), His benevolence and goodness, and his o... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Lead me, O YHWH, in your righteousness because of my enemies, Make your way level before my face.' He asks God, because He is righteous, to lead him, in view of those who lie in wait for him. He needs protection from those who are seeking to entrap him, and asks that God will show him the way ahe... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For there is no faithfulness (steadfastness) in their mouth, Their inward part is destructions (or ‘a yawning gulf'), Their throat is an open sepulchre, They flatter with their tongue.' He describes his enemies, those who are against him and against YHWH. He declares that what they say cannot b... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Hold them guilty, O God, Let them fall by their own counsels, Thrust them out (or ‘down') in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against you.' What upsets him is that these people have rebelled against God Himself, and so He calls for God to deal with them because they... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But let all those who put their trust in you rejoice, Let them shout for joy because you defend them, Let those also who love your name be joyful in you, For you will bless the righteous, O Yahweh you will compass him with favour as a great shield.' But in contrast let those whose trust is in... [ Continue Reading ]