Posted by
Mark on Wednesday, July 05, 2006 6:47:14 PM
Psalm 5:
Verse 8: "Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies -- make straight your way before me."
"[B]ecause of my enemies"? Is it because of my enemies that I need the Lord to lead me in his righteousness? How do my enemies make righteousness more difficult? Perhaps their wickedness tempts me to evil of my own.
Verse 9-11: "Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit. Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them fro 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."
There is opposition between those who have intrigues, many sins, and rebellion against God and those who take refuge in God. Intrigues, many sins, etc. are the results of taking refuge in something other than God. When we sin, we are taking refuge in something. We are seeking aid and comfort from something. It is something other than God. It is something, not only utterly unfulfilling, but also necessarily self-destructive.