Psalm 5: Uttered Groanings

For the choir director; for flute accompaniment. A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray.  In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. (vs. 1-3)

Life can throw some daunting circumstances; the process of being changed into His image can be likened to the olive press, all that is dross being burned out to reveal pure gold. Maybe an enemy torments ruthlessly and the fight for breath becomes desperate. Perhaps you have suffered a betrayal as brutal as David’s—at the hand of his own son and it seems all breath has been knocked out of you; like you have been kicked in the stomach. David asked God to consider his groaning as a prayer. Groaning is a desperate word, and speaks to a desperate place; a dark place where the trial seems to be getting the best of us. Groanings rise up to God to whisper that the pain of the present trial is just too much to endure and beg for relief. Then, when we approach the Throne of Grace, with our groanings, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that can’t be uttered…

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Rom. 8:26 (emphasis mine). 

Sometimes the pain is overwhelming—so overwhelming you can’t muster the words. David endured many trials and he is drawn to the only One that can ease his suffering. David implores the Lord to turn His ear and consider the groaning in his spirit, the sound of his cry for help. He first acknowledges God as his King and God—the Lord is His Master and Deliver; this lures the King to turn His ear toward the cry of His children. In the midst of the hard times, David orders his prayer in the morning, and then eagerly watches for God to deliver Him.

This is pivotal in a walk of faith—to continue to eagerly watch for God to answer once we have prayed, He will answer if we wait and listen for His answer.  

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You.
The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. You destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit. (v. 4-6)

Have you been betrayed? Have you wanted to call fire down from heaven on your enemy? Me too. But the Lord abhors bloodshed. David had all these feelings wrapped up in the bitterness of the betrayal of not only his son, but those that followed him and attempted to wipe out David’s name; he poured out his feelings, his hurt to God. When we hurt and suffer betrayal, we are flooded with emotions, and all those incredible feelings need to be left at the feet of Jesus. We cannot allow them to go anywhere past the foot of the Cross. God will handle the enemy—we just need to rest in Yahweh Tsuri—the Lord our Rock, trusting in Yahweh Tsideqenu—the Lord our Righteousness.

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


David acknowledges God’s holiness—no one will stand before God that is wicked. In the face of betrayal and deceit, if we are close to God, we will bow before Him, the only one that is able to deliver. All things are subject to Him, and when we bow, we are showing God that we are surrendering the whole situation to Him, thanking Him for all good things he has performed on our behalf, and everything He will perform. God is so faithful.

O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me. There is nothing reliable in what they say; Their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; They flatter with their tongue. Hold them guilty, O God; By their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against You. 
(vs. 8-10)

God is righteous, and David prays that God will lead him in righteousness so that he will not be as those that sinned; those that attack; those that betray. He prays that God will keep him on the right path. Those that lie and deceive you, they will live in their sin and remain rebellious. You can’t control their actions, only the way you react to them.  

But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield. (vs.11-12)

God is a tower, a refuge from all the hurt and pain. In the storm of betrayal, the wind smiting your face with gale-force swiftness, the tossing and the turning, the writhing of the hands, stands a Lighthouse guiding you home. Those who love God will see the shelter in the storm and run to Him. He is our Maon—Dwelling Place; Machseh—Refuge; Migdal-Oz—Strong Tower and our Magen—Shield. Run to Him and let Him shelter you from the storm. God is working on your behalf. Leave the betrayers to God. Pour yourself out to God as an offering, and you will find the grace to endure, even if you can’t find the words to pray. The Holy Spirit exchanges your groanings for His and intercedes with groanings for you before the Throne of Grace. 

 

In His Grace,