Psalm 5
"But I, through the abundance of your loyal love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. Lead me, Yahweh, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before me." - Psalm 5:7-8
This is another psalm of David, and it includes, like Psalm 4, the concept of God as a shield (v. 12). The stanzas alternate between a focus on the righteous and a focus on the wicked. In vv. 7-8, David enters God's house, bows down toward God's temple in fear, and asks God to lead him and make his way straight. If we want God to make our way straight, we must first bow down to him and fear him. We must humble ourselves before him and take refuge in him (v. 11).
I need God's guidance right now and want to walk on a straight path. To do so I must humble myself in fear before God. He guides the humble. Humble thyself before the Lord (James 4:2).
Father, may all those who want to walk on the straight path humble themselves before you, as David did. Give us joy, protection, blessing, and grace (vv. 11-12) as we come into your house and bow down toward you. You are a great and holy God, and we must orient our whole selves to you. Help us to do that by your grace, though we are prone to sin and selfishness. In Jesus' name, amen.
- Jeff Coleman