Lead Me in Your Righteousness

 

In the Morning I Pray – Psalm 5

Dear Friends, Psalm 5 is a morning psalm. David does not wait until the day has already run away with him. “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” Prayer is not an afterthought here. It is the first movement of the day — a cry, a preparing, and then a watching to see what God will do.

He comes as a man who knows both the kindness and the holiness of God. The Lord is his King. He will hear. Yet this is not a God who delights in wickedness. Evil may not dwell with Him. The boastful shall not stand before His eyes. He hates evildoing, destroys those who speak lies, and abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful. David is not vague about evil. He names it, and he will not pretend that God is indifferent to it.

Then comes the turning point of the psalm. “But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.” David does not enter because he is better than the wicked. He enters because of mercy. He bows toward the holy temple in the fear of the Lord. Love and reverence stand together. That is how a sinner comes near.

The prayer that follows is practical and urgent. “Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.” The world around him is full of flattery, destruction and open graves for a throat. David does not ask first for an easy path. He asks for a straight one. He wants to walk in God’s way when the voices around him are crooked.

The psalm ends where every morning prayer should end — not only with the problem, but with refuge. “Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy.” The Lord blesses the righteous and covers him with favour as with a shield. That is a word for the start of the day. We do not step out uncovered. Those who take refuge in Him are guarded by His favour.

Pause & Pray: Before the day takes hold of you, give the Lord your first words. Confess any place where you have grown casual about evil, or confident in yourself rather than in His steadfast love. Ask Him to make His way straight before you, and thank Him that His favour is a shield.

Verse to Remember: “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” (Psalm 5:3 ESV)

Question to Consider: What would change if your first movement each day was not worry or hurry, but a cry to the Lord — and a watching to see how He will lead?

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church