A Prayer for Guidance: Psalm 5
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A Brit-Am/Hebraic Tribes Commentary
Psalm 5
A PSALM OF DAVID.
To the Chief Musician. With flutes.
In Hebrew the words translated as, "To the Chief Musician. With flutes" ("LeMenatsayech LeNechilot") may ALSO connote:
TO HIM WHO GRANTS VICTORY FOR THE STREAMING-CURRENTS (Nachilot) OF LIFE.
or as meaning (S.R. Hirsch, 1808-1888, Germany):
TO HIM WHO GRANTS THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME. CONCERNING THE BEQUEATHMENT OF INHERITANCES (Nachalot).
Here "inheritances" refers to whatever one has received in life that helps you get by.
Iben Ezra (1089-1167, Spain, England) says that the word "Nachilot" actually means a musical instrument that hums like a band of bees.
It may well mean a musical instrument. Since in Hebrew there is a frequent play-on-words it may well mean an instrument whose tune is similar to the flowing of a stream ("nachal") perhaps something like the modern harp.
With flutes. A Psalm of David.
Psalm (NKJV) 5:
1 GIVE EAR TO MY WORDS, O LORD,
CONSIDER MY MEDITATION.
2 GIVE HEED TO THE VOICE OF MY CRY,
MY KING AND MY GOD,
FOR TO YOU I WILL PRAY.
God is our king and master.
3 MY VOICE YOU SHALL HEAR IN THE MORNING, O LORD;
IN THE MORNING I WILL DIRECT IT TO YOU,
AND I WILL LOOK UP.
4 FOR YOU ARE NOT A GOD WHO TAKES PLEASURE IN WICKEDNESS,
NOR SHALL EVIL DWELL WITH YOU.
5 THE BOASTFUL SHALL NOT STAND IN YOUR SIGHT;
YOU HATE ALL WORKERS OF INIQUITY.
6 YOU SHALL DESTROY THOSE WHO SPEAK FALSEHOOD;
THE LORD ABHORS THE BLOODTHIRSTY AND DECEITFUL MAN.
7 BUT AS FOR ME, I WILL COME INTO YOUR HOUSE IN THE MULTITUDE OF YOUR MERCY;
IN FEAR OF YOU I WILL WORSHIP TOWARD YOUR HOLY TEMPLE.
One speaking to God it is good to direct oneself towards the site of the Temple.
One should pray in the direction of Jerusalem.
When Solomon built and consecrated the First Temple he requested that both Israelites and non-Israelites who pray while facing towards the site of the Temple would have their prayer heard.
Solomon stressed that this was to apply whether the Temple was standing or in times when the Temple would not be standing. Eventually the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
1-Kings (NKJV) 8:
41 'MOREOVER, CONCERNING A FOREIGNER, WHO IS NOT OF YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL, BUT HAS COME FROM A FAR COUNTRY FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE 42 (FOR THEY WILL HEAR OF YOUR GREAT NAME AND YOUR STRONG HAND AND YOUR OUTSTRETCHED ARM), WHEN HE COMES AND PRAYS TOWARD THIS TEMPLE, 43 HEAR IN HEAVEN YOUR DWELLING PLACE, AND DO ACCORDING TO ALL FOR WHICH THE FOREIGNER CALLS TO YOU, THAT ALL PEOPLES OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW YOUR NAME AND FEAR YOU, AS DO YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL, AND THAT THEY MAY KNOW THAT THIS TEMPLE WHICH I HAVE BUILT IS CALLED BY YOUR NAME.
44 'WHEN YOUR PEOPLE GO OUT TO BATTLE AGAINST THEIR ENEMY, WHEREVER YOU SEND THEM, AND WHEN THEY PRAY TO THE LORD TOWARD THE CITY WHICH YOU HAVE CHOSEN AND THE TEMPLE WHICH I HAVE BUILT FOR YOUR NAME, 45 THEN HEAR IN HEAVEN THEIR PRAYER AND THEIR SUPPLICATION, AND MAINTAIN THEIR CAUSE.... 48 AND WHEN THEY RETURN TO YOU WITH ALL THEIR HEART AND WITH ALL THEIR SOUL IN THE LAND OF THEIR ENEMIES WHO LED THEM AWAY CAPTIVE, AND PRAY TO YOU TOWARD THEIR LAND WHICH YOU GAVE TO THEIR FATHERS, THE CITY WHICH YOU HAVE CHOSEN AND THE TEMPLE WHICH I HAVE BUILT FOR YOUR NAME: 49 THEN HEAR IN HEAVEN ... 51 (FOR THEY ARE YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR INHERITANCE, WHOM YOU BROUGHT OUT OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE IRON FURNACE), 52 THAT YOUR EYES MAY BE OPEN TO THE SUPPLICATION OF YOUR SERVANT AND THE SUPPLICATION OF YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL, TO LISTEN TO THEM WHENEVER THEY CALL TO YOU. 53 FOR YOU SEPARATED THEM FROM AMONG ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH TO BE YOUR INHERITANCE, AS YOU SPOKE BY YOUR SERVANT MOSES, WHEN YOU BROUGHT OUR FATHERS OUT OF EGYPT, O LORD GOD.
Psalms 8 continues:
8 LEAD ME, O LORD, IN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE OF MY ENEMIES;
MAKE YOUR WAY STRAIGHT BEFORE MY FACE.
We need the help of God to do the right thing.
9 FOR THERE IS NO FAITHFULNESS IN THEIR MOUTH;
THEIR INWARD PART IS DESTRUCTION;
THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB;
THEY FLATTER WITH THEIR TONGUE.
10 PRONOUNCE THEM GUILTY, O GOD!
LET THEM FALL BY THEIR OWN COUNSELS;
CAST THEM OUT IN THE MULTITUDE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS,
FOR THEY HAVE REBELLED AGAINST YOU.
The enemies of God and of the Israelite Nations are deceitful and hypocritical. We should relate to them as such.
11 BUT LET ALL THOSE REJOICE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN YOU;
LET THEM EVER SHOUT FOR JOY, BECAUSE YOU DEFEND THEM;
LET THOSE ALSO WHO LOVE YOUR NAME
BE JOYFUL IN YOU.
12 FOR YOU, O LORD, WILL BLESS THE RIGHTEOUS;
WITH FAVOR YOU WILL SURROUND HIM AS WITH A SHIELD.
If we trust in God then He will help us!