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David The Godly Man Psalm5
David the Godly Man
Psalm 5
Paul quotes David saying: " just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin” (Romans 4:6-8). To learn what such a godly man thinks about his relationship to God one needs to read David's Psalms. Here are some thoughts from Psalm 5.
David's understanding of God can be seen in how he addresses and calls upon God. Of course he is God (2,4,10). He also calls God by the name God revealed unto Moses - YHWH* (or as it appears in the ESV 'LORD') in verses 1,3,6,8,12. In addition David acknowledges that God is King. Add to these the fact that David states that He is MY God and My King. A godly man exalts God to be the primary focus of his life. He puts God on the throne and acknowledges that God is in control.
David recognizes that his relationship with God is based upon God's steadfast love and it is through such love that David is able to worship the LORD (vs. 7). God is not a God who delights in wickedness, evil may not dwell with Him (4). The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful and He hates the evildoer (5-6). For those who live wickedly God will bring judgment upon them, He will make them bear their guilt, He will destroy them (6,10).
Such comes from the Holiness of God. The godly man not only knows and acknowledges the holiness of God but agrees with it and conducts himself in like holiness. This follows the commandment of God to 'be holy as I am holy' (Lev. 11:44; 1Pet. 1:16). The godly man is on a path to mold his character into the character of God. He is learning to love what the LORD loves and to abhor what the LORD abhors. This he learns from God's revelation of Himself in the Word of God.
The godly are NOT like the wicked. Their hope and cry is unto the God who loves them. They long for God to lead them in righteousness (8). They take refuge in God's character and rule. They rejoice in His protection (11). They spend their days exalting the LORD.
This is not about 'rules' as such but about holiness and righteousness. This is the response of thanksgiving to God's love. This is not 'working to be right' but the BEING RIGHT. The trust of the godly man is in GOD.
* Scholars and experts in the Hebrew language continue to debate the pronunciation of this name. We may never learn how it is pronounced by us who speak English. What matters is the understanding of what this name signifies. His name stands for His very being and character. We must learn in this way 'who' God is. We must honor His name in that we honor who He is, what He approves of, what He hates, and what He does.
