Psalm 5:4-8, Antiphon,
Psalm 1:6: For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the
wicked will perish. In
keeping with our theme – a life of repentance – the antiphon reminds us that
the righteous will be saved but the wicked will perish. They will perish for
they do not repent. Implicit in the destinies of the two lifestyles are the
destinies of those who choose them. This will be further explained in the Old
Testament lesson for the week.
Psalm 5 – A Morning
Prayer
This psalm is titled To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A
Psalm of David. The title of the psalm indicates that it was directed toward
the Chief Musician, whom some suppose to be the Lord GOD Himself, and others
suppose to be a leader of choirs or musicians in David’s time, such as Heman
the singer or Asaph (1 Chronicles 6:33, 16:5-7, and 25:6). The title also tells
us that the song was deliberately written to be accompanied with flutes. It
shows David coming to the LORD in the morning and receiving the strength and
joy he needs to make it through the day against many adversaries.[1]
The Antiphon, Psalm 1:6; For
the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Summary:
The way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly.
The LORD knows the way
of the righteous: The righteous can have peace because a loving God in heaven
knows their way, and will protect and preserve them.
“Or, as the Hebrew has
it yet more fully, ‘The Lord is knowing the way of the righteous.’ He is
constantly looking on their way, and though it may be often in mist and
darkness, yet the Lord knoweth it.”
The way of the ungodly
shall perish: The way of the ungodly leads to destruction. They are on a broad
path that may seem comfortable now and the path gives them lots of company, but
in the end they shall perish.
At least four times in
the Book of Acts, Christianity is called the Way. Certainly, it is the way of
the righteous, not the way of the ungodly.[2]
Today is St. Patrick’s Day a man used by
God to spread the Gospel to the people of Ireland. On this day we pray for the
same missionary zeal in our own day.
[2]
ibid
[3]
Collect for Psalm 5, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church,
Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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