Prayer Guide: Psalm 5

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To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
    consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you[a] and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
    you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
    the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
    in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
    they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you cover him with favor as with a shield.

REVERENCE

God’s praiseworthy attributes displayed in this text:

  • Gives ear to our prayers – v. 1
  • Considers our groanings/laments – vs. 1
  • Attends to our cries for help – v. 2
  • He is King – v. 2
  • He is the God to whom men pray – v. 2
  • He meets us morning by morning – v. 3
  • He is worthy of our sacrifice – v. 3
  • He is holy and pure – v. 4
  • He resists the proud and evil heart – v.5
  • He judges lies and deception – v. 6
  • His is abundant in steadfast love – v. 7
  • He invites us into intimacy with Himself – v. 7
  • He is holy and to be feared – v. 7
  • He leads us – v. 8
  • He is righteous – v. 8
  • He directs us in the midst of battle – v. 8
  • He judges transgressors and rebels – vv.9-10
  • He is our refuge – v. 11
  • He is a God of joy – v. 11
  • He protects His people – v. 11
  • He (his name) is worthy of our love – v. 11
  • He is worthy of exaltation – v. 11
  • He blesses the righteous – v. 12
  • He covers us with favor – v. 12
  • He is our shield – v. 12

Possible prayer prompters:

  • I praise You Lord that You heard my cry for help when ___________________.
  • Because You are King, I know that You can ___________________.
  • Thank you that I have experienced Your steadfast love, drawing me to You when _________________.
  • I love Your name and exult in You because Your name is _________________.
  • Holy One, I bow down before You in fear because you are ____________________ .

 

RESPONSE

  • Lord, You know that right now my groanings and cries are the result of ____________________. I come in full surrender, giving these things to You.
  • Because You do not delight in wickedness, I confess ______________________.

 

REQUESTS

  • Because You are my King and my God, I trust You today for _____________________.
  • Because of the spiritual battle I face, I am trusting in You to lead me as I ___________________.
  • I ask for Your joy as I trust in You to be my refuge when ______________________.
  • Because _____________________ (name) loves Your name, spread Your protection over them as they __________________________.

 

READINESS

  • Lord, may Your favor be my shield today as I encounter __________________________________ (area of spiritual battle).
  • Lord, I pray Your favor will be a shield for _____________________ (name) as he/she encounters ______________________ (area of spiritual battle).