A Refuge To Rejoice

Psalm 5:7-12

7Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house;

with deepest awe I will worship at your Temple.

8Lead me in the right path, O LORD,

or my enemies will conquer me.

Tell me clearly what to do,

and show me which way to turn.

9My enemies cannot speak one truthful word.

Their deepest desire is to destroy others.

Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.

Their speech is filled with flattery.

10O God, declare them guilty.

Let them be caught in their own traps.

Drive them away because of their many sins,

for they rebel against you.

11But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them sing joyful praises forever.

Protect them,

so all who love your name may be filled with joy.

12For you bless the godly, O LORD,

surrounding them with your shield of love.

Things didn’t look good for Martin Luther when he was summoned to Augsburg in late October 1518. He was being charged with heresy. Up to this point Frederick the Wise, elector of Saxony, had protected Luther from the church authorities, but now the prince was under pressure to withdraw his protection. It seemed only a matter of time before he would.

In Augsburg, Luther was asked, “If the elector of Saxony abandons you, where will you find shelter?”

The Reformer responded, “Under the shelter of heaven.”

In this last part of Psalm 5, we find that David, like Luther, trusted in the Lord to rescue him from his enemies. He took comfort in the fact that God had shown him unfailing love, allowing him to enter the Temple to worship. And it was in this context of worship that David asked for divine guidance.

Did the psalmist escape from the trap? We don’t know, but the psalm closes with “joyful praises,” because David knew that he was now surrounded by God’s protection (see also Psalm 91:4). Like Martin Luther, he found refuge under the shelter of heaven.

Under his wings, O what precious enjoyment!

There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er.

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me;

Resting in Jesus I’m safe evermore.

WILLIAM O. CUSHING

A Word on Words

Five different Hebrew words are used in the Old Testament for “shield,” ranging from a small shield on the arm to a large body shield. Verse 12 refers to the largest shield, the kind that Goliath’s armor bearer held (see 1 Samuel 17:7). It protected the whole body.

Bible Networking

Look up Romans 3:13 to see how Paul quotes Psalm 5:9.