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Psalm 5 is a psalm of praise to God as well as a petition to God for deliverance from human enemies. It is one of many psalms (Hebrew – tehilim) attributed to the biblical King David. David refers to Yahweh as “my king and my God” suggesting a close relationship[1], yet one in which David ascribes the greater authority (king) and power (God) to Yahweh. Eager for God's help, David describes getting up at dawn to present his problem to God. In his approach, David presents his situation similar to the way a legal case would be presented and waits for God's decision; yet he also goes to God's house to worship out of love and reverence. David wants deliverance fom the evildoers and also for God to rebuke them for their actions. David refers to God as his shield from those who may hurt him, not only with weapons, but also with words and schemes. He realizes, however, that his own conduct and fidelity to God affects whether he can be close to God and whether God will show him favor.

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For the director, for the flutes. A psalm of David.

Give ears to my words, O Yahweh, attend to my utterance.
Give heed to the sound of my cry, my King and my God; For to you am I praying, O Yahweh.
At dawn hear my voice, at dawn I will draw up my case, for you will I watch.
A no-god delights in evil, but you- no evil man can be your guest.

Let no boasters stand before you. I hate all evil-doers, destroy those who tell lies!
The man of idols and figurines, Yahweh detests.
But through your great love I will enter your house;
I will worship in your holy temple, among those who fear you, O Yahweh.

Lead me into your meadow because of my rivals, your way make level before me.
For there is nothing firm in his mouth, his belly is an engulfing chasm;
A grave wide-open is their throat, with their tongue they bring death.
Make them perish, O God, let them fall because of their schemes;
For their numerous crimes hurl them down, since they have challenged you.

While all who seek refuge in you will rejoice, forever singing with joy;
and you will shelter them, that they who love your name may exult in you.
For you will bless the just man yourself, O Yahweh, as with a shield,
you will surround him with your favor. [2]

Authorship and context

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Psalm 5 is one of 73 biblical psalms (out of 150) directly attributed to David. [3] David was king of Israel for about 40 years from about 1010 until about 970 B.C.. He is famous for his single-handed defeat of the giant Goliath as a young man and for a remarkable military career leading up to and through his reign.

In various biblical passages, David is referred to as “the favorite of the songs of Israel,”[4] the one who soothed Saul with music,[5] and the founder of Temple singing.[6][7] Besides the biblical psalms, a Psalms scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls (11QPsa) attributes 3600 tehilim (songs of praise) plus other compositions to David.[8]

The supreme kingship of Yahweh is the most pervasive theological concept in the book of Psalms,[9][10] and many psalms attributed to David are directed to Yahweh by name,[11] whether in praise or petition, suggesting a relationship.[12] According to the Midrash Tehillim, King David was prompted to the Psalms by the Holy Spirit that rested upon him.[13]

Structure and content

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Some biblical Psalms include notations or indications that they were written for a specific occasion. In Psalm 5, the need is more generally stated. As a petition, Psalm 5 has a familiar structure: the one being petitioned is identified, the petition is laid out, and reasons why the petition should be granted are offered.

In biblical poetry and proverbs, parallel structure is often used for emphasis, and this is the case in Psalm 5. Examples include: “Give ear ll attend to” and “my words ll my utterance.”

The petition is general, and the psalm could be used as a prayer for a variety of situations. Though the authorship is attributed to David, the psalm does not give details of the petitioner, making the psalm useful by anyone in a similar situation.[14] However, the one being petitioned is identified specifically as Yahweh (translated LORD to avoid offense) rather than a deity in general. The author's view of God is very personal and he refers to God as “my king and my God.” The phrase expresses that the author believes that God is interested in and able to help the petitioner.[15]

The petition is not a silent prayer or thought; rather, the petitioner asks God to listen, “to my utterance” and “to the sound of my cry.” This crying out was not so that the sound would physically reach God in heaven, but to express the depth of the petitioner's distress.[16] At the same time, expectation of a favorable answer is expressed.

The expectation that the petition will be answered is based in God's “great love,” variously translated in English as “abundant love” and “faithful love.” The Hebrew word in this instance is hesed, a type of love that is part of God's character. It is based on covenant relationships between God and individuals or groups, and especially between God and Israel. It has been suggested that “loyalty,” combining both obligation and affection, is the best single word approximation for hesed in English.[17]

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In Judaism, verse 8 of psalm 5 is the second verse from Ma Tovu[18].

Some or all of the words of Psalm 5 have been used by modern musical artists. Examples include:

American musician Chuck Girard composed a song based on the first three verses of Psalm 5 that has been recorded by several other Christian artists, groups and languages and is used in Christian worship services.

Filipino musician Ben Noynay composed a song with the whole of Psalm 5.

Nicaraguan priest and reformer Ernesto Cardenal composed a poem in Spanish following the pattern and themes of Psalm 5 (Salmo 5) but set in the context of the political struggles of his country.

Guatemalan Christian popular music singer Juan Carlos Alvarado composed a song in Spanish based on Psalm 5 (Salmo 5).

The words are also found in inspirational art and jewelry.

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References

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  1. ^ Introduction to Psalms (p. 1284), The Jewish Study Bible, Tanakh Translation, 2004. Berlin, Adele; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Fishbane, Michael, eds. Jewish Publication Society, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195297512
  2. ^ Dahood, Mitchell. Psalms I: 1-50. 1965. Doubleday and Company, Inc. pp. 28-36
  3. ^ "David" and "Psalms, Book of," New Bible Dictionary, second edition,1982. Douglas, J.D. (organizing editor), Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale Press. ISBN 0842346678
  4. ^ 2 Samuel 23:1
  5. ^ 1 Samuel 16:17–23
  6. ^ 2 Chronicles 23:18
  7. ^ Nehemiah 12:24,36, 45–46
  8. ^ Introduction to Psalms (pp. 1280, 1281), The Jewish Study Bible, Tanakh Translation. Berlin, Adele; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Fishbane, Michael, eds. Jewish Publication Society, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195297512
  9. ^ Introduction to Psalms (p. 1013), NIV Study Bible,1995. Barker, Kenneth, Burdick, Donald; Stek John; Wessel, Walter; Youngblood, Ronald, eds. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, MI, USA ISBN 0310927099
  10. ^ "Psalms, Book of," New Bible Dictionary, second edition,1982. Douglas, J.D. (organizing editor), Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale Press. ISBN 0842346678
  11. ^ "Psalms, Book of", New Bible Dictionary, second edition,1982. Douglas, J.D. (organizing editor), Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale Press. ISBN 0842346678
  12. ^ Introduction to Psalms (p. 1284), The Jewish Study Bible, Tanakh Translation, 2004. Berlin, Adele; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Fishbane, Michael, eds. Jewish Publication Society, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195297512
  13. ^ Midrash Psalms 24 read online
  14. ^ H. Kraus. Psalms 1-59: A Continental Commentary. Fortress Press 1993, p. 153
  15. ^ Berlin, Adele, Brettler, Mark Z., Fishbane, Michael. The Jewish Study Bible. 2004. Oxford University Press Inc. p 1288
  16. ^ John Calvin's commentary on Psalm 5:2, transl. Anderson, Eeardman's, Grand Rapids, MI 1949
  17. ^ Berlin, Adele, Brettler, Mark Z., Fishbane, Michael. The Jewish Study Bible. 2004. Oxford University Press Inc. p 1288
  18. ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 12
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