Survey of Psalm 5: A look at God, David, and Us
"Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.
Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray."
When David utters the words, "Give ear to my words," I don't think David is necessarily pleading for God to hear him. David understands that God hears his cries, or else why would he even be uttering this phrase in the first place? Instead, David seeks for God to listen to his distress, that God would care about his pleas for help. He is pleading for compassion -- the compassion of a listening ear.
How reassuring is it then to realize that when we earnestly plead in our prayers before God, there is not only a God who hears, but a God who listens, a God who pays attention.
David goes on further to talk about his attitudes toward God. To David, God is not merely this security blanket or safety net. David acknowledges that God is not just God, but king over his life. How significant this phrase, that the king of Israel would acknowledge his weakness and humility by recognizing an authority greater than his own. To many of us, God is God, but God is not king. We are in control over our lives and God only comes into the picture when it is convenient. David recognized that in his life, God must not only be God, but king over his motivations, ambitions, and thoughts.
David also uses the phrase, "for to you do I pray." This reveals David's shear reliance and and realization that true help comes from God alone. Along similar lines, David's reliance on God through prayer acknowledges God as the source for security, change, and transformation. David, in times of trouble, does not turn to false idols, himself (when he does, bad things happen), nor the consul of his advisers. He ultimately finds himself on his knees in the awesome presence of God.
Summary:
David pleads for God to hear and listen
David acknowledges God as both God and king
David relies on God through prayer
Next section, Proper Reliance and Improper Reliance...
How reassuring is it then to realize that when we earnestly plead in our prayers before God, there is not only a God who hears, but a God who listens, a God who pays attention.
David goes on further to talk about his attitudes toward God. To David, God is not merely this security blanket or safety net. David acknowledges that God is not just God, but king over his life. How significant this phrase, that the king of Israel would acknowledge his weakness and humility by recognizing an authority greater than his own. To many of us, God is God, but God is not king. We are in control over our lives and God only comes into the picture when it is convenient. David recognized that in his life, God must not only be God, but king over his motivations, ambitions, and thoughts.
David also uses the phrase, "for to you do I pray." This reveals David's shear reliance and and realization that true help comes from God alone. Along similar lines, David's reliance on God through prayer acknowledges God as the source for security, change, and transformation. David, in times of trouble, does not turn to false idols, himself (when he does, bad things happen), nor the consul of his advisers. He ultimately finds himself on his knees in the awesome presence of God.
Summary:
David pleads for God to hear and listen
David acknowledges God as both God and king
David relies on God through prayer
Next section, Proper Reliance and Improper Reliance...
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