Lead Me, O Lord (An article by Christian Henry)

OCTOBER 10, 2023

 “Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.” (Psalm 5:6-8)

This fifth Psalm is another from the pen of David; however, we don’t have any specific evidence of the occasion of the writing other than the fact that he was beset by enemies and in peril amid violent men. Sadly, for David, this wasn’t an exceptional case. Who those violent men were is unimportant, for the proper object of the writing was to express sentiments to all who find themselves in similar circumstances. David does this by pointing toward, what should be, the real ground of trust for the people of God at such times.

God will destroy those who speak leasing or lies (leasing is the old Saxon word denoting falsehood). He will bring these people to perish through punishment for this iniquity. David’s idea, which is true, is that God can never and will never be able to support their cause or find favor in them. Therefore, these people must be overthrown and punished, since God cannot dwell with sin; it must be fully dealt with. God will hold in abomination those practicing this sin. God cannot take part in sin, nor will He countenance evil. The righteous, however, can appeal to every aspect of the Divine nature as grounds for confidence and trust.

While some men are characteristically wicked and have neither desire to serve God, nor access to God, and therefore, no reason to suppose their prayers will be heard, David and all of God’s children are assured that He will listen to us. “But as for me,” David writes, “I will come into thy house,” unlike those living in iniquity. He is permitted to enter the courts of the Lord from which he had now been driven away and his purpose is thus to acknowledge God. But through all the hardships, because of God’s abundant mercy, David felt assured that he would once again be permitted to enter God’s earthly courts and offer his vows and thanksgivings there.

In verse nine, David pleads that the Lord conduct him safely in the manifestation of the principles of justice and righteousness, which belong to His divine nature. David felt assured that his cause was righteous and that he might appeal to God on the grounds of the justness of that cause. Such a ground of appeal is always proper when we are in danger or trouble from the injustice of others. We may always ask God to interpose and to cause what is suitable to be done so that we may be vindicated in the face of our enemies. God will mark out, or make plain the path before us where He wants us to tread – the course in which He will deliver us. When we are all turned around and don’t know which way to go, we can always look up to God for guidance and direction.