Studies in Psalms - Psalm 5

The Holiness of God and His Hatred for Sin

Psalm 5 is another morning prayer. Another reminder that the very first action we should take each morning is to seek the Lord first thing. Notice that the author asks God to hear his groaning and his cry. Most likely this is a psalm of David and certainly David faced many difficult mornings in his life. Even so, David, as we should as well, knew he should seek God’s counsel in how he could devote each day to God.

Psalm 5:1-3

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

Evil and deceitful men were David’s enemy, and we also live in a dangerous world where evil seeks to destroy our joy. Some who fail to understand the full nature of God are appalled by the idea that someone might say that God hates. After all, He is love. But the truth of who God is reveals to us that God’s greatest attribute is His holiness. God possesses a holy nature that so far transcends anything we have ever known in this world and because of this holiness, He cannot tolerate sin. David is speaking of the holiness of God and the hatred God carries for sin here. This is one of the imprecatory prayers we see in scripture and it is not sinful to hate sin. The men David is praying against here are those in complete rebellion to God. When someone sins against us they are also sinning against God. They are in rebellion against their very creator.

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

As Christians, it is not our mission to be the executor of punishment to the evil people in the world. Ours, according to Jesus, is to love them, pray for them, and to share the Gospel with them. But with a delicate balance, being careful of our motive, we are still to take a stand against those who completely reject God and live in complete rebellion in league with Satan. Romans 13 explains that God put government into place to wield the sword against lawlessness, so unless God has placed us in one of those positions, we must stay in concert with the Great Commission. But like David, we must not be partnered with evil. Nor should we be silent in its condemnation.

Because of His holiness, God must deal with sin. And He will. But in His time and in His way. We can rest and find peace in our lives despite the violence and the debauchery we see running amok in the world by simply trusting by faith in the truth that God will recompense.

Hebrews 10:30-31 reminds us saying, “For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” And then Revelation 22:12 is the very words of Jesus, Himself, who says,“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” God is not just letting evil go unpunished.

So, is it okay for Christians to pray these imprecatory prayers such as we see here?

Psalm 5:9-10
For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. 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.

Yes, but only if it is out of a pure heart that has its only motive that God be respected in His Holiness.

But what about us? Even Christians are still sinners. How can we have joy when we also so often violate the holiness of God?

The answer is within the end of the psalm.

Psalm 5:11-12
 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. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

The answer is Jesus. Take refuge in Him. Sing for joy as the blood of Christ is spread over you as your protection. Exult His name for He has covered you with favor as a shield. That shield is Christ. That is our only hope.