Psalms 5:1

_GIVE EAR TO MY WORDS O LORD CONSIDER MY MEDITATION_ _ GIVE EAR TO MY WORDS, O LORD, CONSIDER MY MEDITATION._ Title. - UPON NEHILOTH, х_ 'EL_ (H413) _ HANªCHIYLOWT_ (H5155) 'on the flutes:' or 'to 'be sung TO wind-instruments' (Maurer), from _ CHAALAL_ (H2490), to bore. But 'el' is never used to introduce the instruments]. Probably the title is enigmatic, and expresses poetically the subject of the Psalm. The Septuagint and other Greek translators render it as: huper tees kleeronomousees, concerning the heiress:' so Vulgate. The heiress is the Church, who possesses the Lord as her "inheritance" (Psalms 16:5). Or else passively [from _ NAACHAL_ (H5157)], 'Her who is possess

I presume not positively to determine whether David, in this psalm, bewails the wrongs which he suffered from his enemies at some particular time, or whether he complains generally of the various persecutions with which, for a long time, he was harassed under Saul. Some of the Jewish commentators apply the psalm even to Absalom; because, by _the bloody and deceitful man_, they think Doeg and Ahithophel are pointed out. To me, however, it appears more probable, that when David, after the death of Saul, had got peaceable possession of the kingdoms he committed to writing the prayers which he had meditated in his afflictions and dangers. But to come to the words:— First, he expresses one thing in three different ways; and this repetition denotes the strength of his affection, and his long perseverance in prayer. For he was not so fond of many words as to employ different forms of expression...

1-6 God is a prayer-hearing God. Such he has always been, and he is still as ready to hear prayer as ever. The most encouraging principle of prayer, and the most powerful plea in prayer, is, to look upon him as our King and our God. David also prays to a sin-hating God. sin is folly, and sinners are the greatest of all fools; fools of their own making. Wicked people hate God; justly are they hated of him, and this will be their endless misery and ruin. Let us learn the importance of truth and sincerity, in all the affairs of life. Liars and murderers resemble the devil, and are his children, therefore it may well be expected that God should abhor them. These were the characters of David's enemies; and such as these are still the enemies of Christ and his people....

PSALM V _David continues instant in prayer_, 1, 2; _makes early application to God_, 3; _and shows the hatred which God bears to the workers of_ _iniquity_, 4-6. _His determination to worship God, and to implore direction and_ _support_, 7, 8. _He points out the wickedness of his enemies_, 9, _and the destruction they may expect_, 10; _and then shows the happiness of those who trust in the Lord_, 11, 12. NOTES ON PSALM V...

GIVE EAR TO MY WORDS, O LORD - We naturally incline the ear toward anyone when we wish to hear distinctly what he says, and we turn away the ear when we do not. The meaning here is, David prayed that God would be attentive to or would regard his prayer. This form of the petition is, that he would attend to his “words” - to what he was about to “express” as his desire. He intended to express only what he wished to be granted. CONSIDER MY MEDITATION - Understand; perceive, for so the word rendered “consider” properly means. He desired that he would regard the real import of what is here called his “meditation;” that is, he wished him not merely to attend to his “words,” but to the secret and unexpressed desires of the soul. The idea seems to be that while his words would be sincere and truthful, yet they could not express “all” his meaning. There were desires of the soul which no language...

EXPOSITION THIS psalm is assigned by some to the time of Manasseh, but contains nothing that is really opposed to the superscription—"A Psalm of David"—since, before the temple was built, the tabernacle was called "the temple" (Joshua 6:24; 1Sa 1:9; 1 Samuel 3:3; 2 Samuel 12:20). It is thoroughly "Davidic in style, concise, vigorous; with rapid transitions of thought and feeling" ('Speaker's Commentary'). With respect to the time in David's life whereto it should be assigned, there are no very distinct indications. It was not while he was in exile, for he had ready access to the house of God (verse 7); nor was it in the later years of his life, when he had no open adversaries. Perhaps "a short

GIVE EAR TO MY WORDS, O LORD,.... Meaning not his words in common conversation, but in prayer; the words which came out of his mouth, and were audibly expressed by him at the throne of grace, and design vocal prayer; and so stand distinguished from the meditation of his heart, sacred ejaculations, or mental prayer; see Psalms 54:2; and words in prayer to God ought to be few, at least not repeated, Ecclesiastes 5:2; and these should be a man's own words, as were the psalmist's; not what were suggested by another, or written in a book before him, but what were of his own composing and putting together, under the direction of the Spirit of God; who put words into his mouth, and furnished him both with words and matter, and which he freely uttered before the Lord: and this is the "parrhesia", boldness, freed

Psalms 5:1. _Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation._ Sometimes we pray right off, as David did when he cried to the Lord, «Hear me when I call.» At other times, we sit down to meditate, and think over what we want to say to the Lord in prayer, as David did when he said, « ‘O Lord, consider my meditation.' What I have considered do thou consider.» A well-considered prayer is very likely to succeed with God. Psalms 5:2. _Hearken unto the voice of my cry,-_ «When I have not confidence or comfort enough to present a well-ordered prayer to thee; but, like a child in pain, cry unto thee, ‘Hearken unto the voice of my cry,'»- Psalms 5:2. _My King, and my God:_...

NEHILOTH Nehiloth is not a musical instrument, but means "inheritance," and indicates the character of the Psalm. The righteous are the Lord's inheritance....

Psalms 5 _ 1.The cry to God the King (Psalms 5:1)_ 2. Hating iniquity and trusting in mercy (Psalms 5:4) 3. Prayer for guidance and judgment (Psalms 5:8) Psalms 5:1. In the third Psalm trust is expressed in God as shield; in the fourth the prayer is to the God of righteousness. “Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King and my God.” It is a fresh and more intense prayer, because evil increaseth and abounds. The cry is to God as King. David calls Him King, as the Jewish remnant will pray to the King and look for the coming of the King. The Church looks for t