More instructions from David

We're camped out in Psalm 5; we have listened as David thought about God's hatred of sin, and about God being our judge. By David's logic, our holy, sin-hating God will come to our defense simply because the wicked are so wicked! Now David tells us how to "draw near" to our refuge.

But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, AtYour holy temple I will bow in reverence for You. (v. 7)
 

David realized that he had no righteousness of his own . . . that the only way to enter God's house is by the lovingkindness that He shows to us. The Hebrew word translated "lovingkindness" here is the Old Testament word for "grace."  David's words (abundant lovingkindness) are very similar to Paul's words in the New Testament: "the riches of His grace."

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7)

It's clear that the only way anyone can "draw near" to God is through God's abundant grace.

Some folks kinda get bent out of shape because David mentions "God's house" and "temple." They pounce on it because at the time, the temple didn't yet exist. But both words are used of the tabernacle in the Old Testament:

Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house.  (Joshua 6:24)

Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.  (II Samuel 12:20)

Those words, "the Lord's house" are symbolic of the place of God's presence, and the place where His glory was seen. The only way to draw near to God was with fear, or in other words, with reverence. When Jesus taught us to pray "hallowed be Your name" in Matthew, we were taught to honor and reverence the name of the Lord. Hebrews 4:16 does indeed tell us to be confident:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (v. 16)

We can approach and pray in confidence that He will hear and answer - but we must also come with reverence.

Starting in verse eight, David goes through his "list" again: he says when under attack we must take refuge in the Lord in prayer, we can appeal to God as our righteous judge, and we can reverently draw near to God by His grace.

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight before me.

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
    with their tongues they tell lies.
 Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
    for they have rebelled against you.
 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
    you surround them with your favor as with a shield. (V. 8-12)

We mentioned before just how easy it is to want to respond to our attackers in kind. A harsh word for a harsh word, a cutting remark to pay back for the first painful remark, etc. In verse eight we see that David is not just asking that God would protect him from the wicked, but that He would protect David from becoming like the wicked! Our critics would love to see us stumble, but that gives them an opportunity to mock and dishonor God, so it's important for us to stay in the "straight way."

In verses nine and ten, David again asks God to judge his evil attackers. This brings up a question that believers have discussed for many years: should we ask God to judge our attackers, or to forgive them?

Think about that for a minute.

We might quickly say oh, the New Testament way is for us to forgive them. We need to wait before we jump, though. (Grin) Check out this:

 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you ......They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might (II Thessalonians 1:6, 9)

And this:

“Rejoice over her, you heavens!
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.” (Revelation 18:20)

Ask God to judge them? Rejoice over their punishment? Or forgive?

I believe that when evil people who are rebelling against God attack us, we need to ask God to be glorified either in saving them or by judging them. We may not know what His plan is. He may have a sovereign purpose in mind. We can leave it up to Him. (I don't know about you, but that takes the stress off of me, for sure!) He may save them -- He saved Saul of Tarsus! Or He may send them to eternal damnation if they don't repent. Many times when we are walking with the Lord and working for Him, people who attack us don't really hate us -- it's just that they are so busy rebelling against God that they lash out at anyone who is in their way! 

There are two things to remember: one, don't take it personally. We are just the messengers. Two, remember that it's not necessarily wrong to defend against these critics. It does require God's grace and wisdom, in order to respond in a Christlike and gracious way.

We'll be finishing up our studies of Psalm 5 next week. Have a blessed and peaceful weekend.