Gray clouds gather and swell with rain. The wind picks up and the lightning flashes, while the thunder rolls. Where do we run? We instinctively seek the nearest shelter and refuge. But where do we run when life turns into a storm? Words like rain sting; diagnoses like thunder and lightning make us weak and tremble with fear. Maybe people like a strong wind, oppose us. In these dire moments, where do we run? Will any shelter provide true refuge?
David is again facing enemies. He cries out to the Lord. Two paths emerge from his plea. He sees the way of the wicked leading to destruction. He also sees God’s path leading to the refuge it provides. One leads to ruin and the other to blessedness. And once again we are faced with the two paths from Psalm 1. The question that emerges is: Which path will we take? To whom will we run? Who will we cry out to?
5:1-3 "Cry to the Lord and Wait"
David again turns to the Lord in the face of evil people. He cries out to God. Focus on the words he used. “Listen, consider, pay attention, plead my case.” He cried out for action. He knew God listens and cares. That’s why he prayed to God and declared (as a king himself) that God is his King. “My God and King.” He knew God is an ear to hear and a shoulder on which to lean.
“In the morning.” David didn’t waste any time. God was his priority. God set the agenda of his day and his life. After pleading for action, for God to move as a result of his crying, he watched with an expectation of action and God’s answer. He didn’t doubt. He prayed with great confidence. He went to God as his true shelter, the one who really listened and cared. His waiting for God’s justice is an act of faith.
May we develop a deep sense of faith that runs to God first, cries to Him, and awaits His action. So often we see praying and crying out to God as a last resort. This is, sadly, in part, a lack of faith in the power of God to act. From this psalm, as we face the storms of life on our journey, let us be quick to take our hurts to God. Let us take our hurts to Him with the expectation that He can and will mend our hurt and bring justice in His timing. We have a heavenly Father who longs to be with us in the storm. He longs to extend the refuge of His arms. So why wait? Why doubt? Like David, run to Him, crying out for mercy and grace.
5:4-6 "God is a Shelter from Evil”
Why can David cry out to God and wait on Him while evil people attack him? Because David knows the character of God. The Lord does not delight in wickedness, and evil cannot dwell in His presence. God is holy and righteous. He will not allow wickedness to stand forever. David knows that the God who hears him is also the God who judges evil. Again, hear the echo of Psalm 1: the boastful will not stand in the presence of God. Liars will be destroyed. David awaits the destruction of the wicked by the hand of God.
God abhors violent and treacherous people. They won’t be found in the presence of God or among His people. God is an ultimate shelter from such people. When we find ourselves pressed and under attack from evil people, we must run to the Lord. He is our refuge, even when the storm does not immediately pass. In this life, the words and actions of evil people can still hurt us. But our confidence rests in the God who hates wickedness and promises to bring evil to an end. One day, we will experience the fullness of His refuge in His eternal kingdom. Until then, we can find hope, peace, and even joy in His presence as we wait.
When we find ourselves pressed and under attack from evil people, we must run to the Lord. Run to Him in confidence that He shelters us from such people. And we know this to be in an ultimate and eternal sense. In the present, evil people’s words and actions do hurt us. But our confidence and hope are in the fact that our God hates these things. And that one day, in His Kingdom, He will bring all evil to an end and justice to the hurt and the oppressed. On that day, God will forever be our refuge. But in His presence we can find hope, peace, and even joy in the presence of our God while we await the Kingdom.
5:7-8 “God is a gracious Shelter”
So who can be found with God, and how can we be found in His presence? Only the righteous. But who is righteous? We know that we have sinned. We hurt people. Sometimes we do evil. So who can enter?
David entered the shelter of the Lord. He knew that he had sinned greatly. So how could he enter?
“By Your faithful love!”
It is God’s mercy and grace toward His people (those He chose and those who walk His path). This grace allows us to enter His refuge. David bowed in awe of who God is.
As Christians, we say that the blood of Christ covers our sin and allows us in. All who seek the Lord and His path are recipients of His grace. Such recipients are marked by humility and reverence toward God. We could call humility and reverence akin to the fruit of the Spirit. It is the fruit of those who walk the blessed path. We walk it by the faithful love of God.
In light of enemies, David asked for God’s wisdom and guidance. “Lead me, because of my enemies.” Who did David seek guidance from when he faced enemies? He sought the Lord first and foremost. God is a shelter, and His refuge will guide and lead us through life’s paths and in life’s storms.
We don’t seek our own way, but God’s way. This is especially true as thick clouds blind our way; we seek the Lord’s guiding hand down the path. He walks with us down the blessed path. So as we face difficulties in this life, don’t rely on your wisdom. Seek God’s wisdom and guidance through prayer and time with Him. Enemies and trials alike should drive us into the arms of God, with our ears and hearts open.
5:9-10 “Seek God over the World.”
God is an abundant shelter, full of grace and faithful love. The wicked and those who walk the wicked path are led to destruction. Note the words that describe the wicked: nothing reliable, destruction, open graves, punished, fall, driven out, rebelling. Verse 9 describes this path, and verse 10 calls for action against them. The wicked’s words are empty. Their destruction comes from within. Their speech is a grave. It’s dead and withered.
Verse 10 calls for action. David called for God to punish those who attacked him. He prayed that their plans would fail in light of God’s plan. They are driven out of God’s presence due to their unrepentant hearts. Their rebellion is ultimately against God, and we know that leads to destruction.
So don’t fear the wicked. Yes, their words and actions sting. But their end is certain. They will not flourish. Their ways and words are futile against our great King. So what is our response?
5:11-12 “Rejoice in God’s Shelter”
Let God’s people rejoice and be glad! God’s people: rejoice, shout for joy, find shelter, and boast in the Lord. So during the storms of life, God’s presence brings joy for eternity. We get to boast in the goodness of God to the world around us. We don’t boast in ourselves, but in the great King of Heaven. We boast in God’s grace and mercy. What a refuge for troubled times! Our enemies and their schemes cannot shake our joy in the Lord. God blesses the one on His path. He surrounds them like a shield. So as the clouds gather, take refuge in the Lord. Find your deepest joy in Him.
Conclusion
Psalm 5 begins with David crying out to God and ends with a call for God's people to rejoice in Him. David knows that the wicked pursue a path that leads to destruction, but those who take refuge in the Lord are surrounded by His favor like a shield. What a wonderful refuge for troubled times!
When the storms of life gather, let us be quick to run to God. Bring your hurts and fears before Him. Trust His righteousness and faithful love. Ask Him to guide your steps so that you do not become like those who oppose you. And when injustice seems to prevail, entrust your cause to the righteous Judge. We may not know when the storm will pass, but we know the One who shelters us through it. His grace is greater than our circumstances, His guidance is better than our wisdom, and His joy is greater than anything this world can offer.
So when the clouds gather, take refuge in the Lord. Find your deepest joy in Him. He surrounds His people like a shield, and those who trust in Him have every reason to rejoice.