Psalms 5 - Introduction

Another morning prayer, uttered by one who is exposed to danger from the machinations of unscrupulous and hypocritical enemies. The title assigns it to David, and he might have written thus when he was in the court of Saul, or shortly before the outbreak of Absalom's rebellion.

It has been urged that Psalms 5:7 assumes the existence of the Temple, and is therefore decisive against the Davidic authorship. This however is not certain. The term "house of the Lord" presents no difficulty. It is used of the Tabernacle (Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26; Deuteronomy 23:18; Joshua 6:24; 1 Samuel 1:24; 1 Samuel 3:15), and also of the tent which David pitched for the ark on Mount Zion (2 Samuel 12:20). But could this ark-tent be called a temple? The Heb. word hêycâldenotes a spacious building, whether temple or palace (Psalms 45:8; Psalms 45:15), and would not be a strictly appropriate designation for it. It is however applied to the sanctuary at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:9; 1 Samuel 3:3), and may have remained in use, and been applied to the ark-tent in David's time. It should at any rate be noticed that in Psalms 27:4; Psalms 27:6, -house of the Lord," -temple," and -tent" (A.V. tabernacle) are all used in close juxtaposition.

It is moreover at least possible that here, as in Psalms 11:4; Psalms 18:6; Psalms 29:9 (?), the temple is heaven, the dwelling-place of God, of which the earthly temple is but the symbol.

The Psalm opens with an urgent cry for a favourable hearing (Psalms 5:1-3). Jehovah will not tolerate the wicked (Psalms 5:4-6); but the Psalmist, through His lovingkindness, is admitted to His presence. He prays that he may be preserved from falling into the snares of his insidious foes (Psalms 5:7-9); and that their just condemnation and punishment may exhibit a proof of God's righteous government which will cheer the hearts of His servants (Psalms 5:10-12).

The title may be rendered with R.V., For the Chief Musician; with the Nehiloth, or, (marg.) wind instruments. See Introd. pp. xxi, xxiv.