Mar 1996 - Notes On Psalm 5 - Bible Studies 1964

by John Miller | Category: Voices From The Past | Mar 1996

In contrast to Psalm 4, which was to be sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments, this psalm was to be sung to the music of wind instruments. It may be that the contents of these psalms were suited to the two kinds of music. The sweeter the words the sweeter the music, and the more severe the words and condemnatory of the workers of iniquity, the more strident the music. A keen musician like David would know the music that suited the words. We all know how unsuited they are to each other, a hymn wedded to a wrong tune.

David calls upon the Lord to hear his words which were the result of his meditation. His prayer was in the form of crying unto God his King. There are various ways in which prayer may be made. Here it was a cry, but prayer may be made in a whisper. 'LORD, in trouble have they visited Thee, they poured out a prayer (Hebrew Lachash, 'whisper', R.V. margin) when Thy chastening was upon them' (Is. 26:16). Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 1 was not even a whisper: 'She spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard' (verse 13).

David's was a morning prayer which he ordered (Hebrew Arak, to arrange in order, or in a row) unto God, and he kept watch for an answer. Sometimes we may forget what we pray for, which is a prayer with the mouth, not with the heart. We do not forget the burdens of our hearts that we bring to God our Father in prayer. The heavier the burden the more we remember what we have besought God for.

John Miller | Mar 1996
Voices From The Past