Psalm 5:8
Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies – make your way straight before me.
We saw yesterday that because of God's great love, David
(and we) can safely come into God's presence to worship him. But that's not the end of the Psalm. We might think that being in God's presence was the end goal, the final climax of the story. And one day, it will be. When we are physically in his presence and see him face to face. But until then David isn't only on his knees in worship. He's also on his feet, walking in obedience.
God's righteousness, credited to us through the death of
Jesus, is what enables us to come into God's presence to worship. But it is also what leads us, daily, as we live in this world. As we will see tomorrow, David's enemies surround him. Their words are untrustworthy. Following them leads to destruction. And so David asks God to lead him in righteousness. To direct him
along the straight path of godliness. David knows that God's direction is reliable. Walking in his way brings truth and life and safety. This isn't David's way, following David's choices, according to David's ideas of righteousness. It is God's way.
God's people are, and always have been, worshippers - think
back to the Exodus. Why did Moses ask Pharaoh to 'let God's people go?' Not simply because they were slaves and wanted to be free. But 'so that we may worship the Lord'. But that worship has never been about getting away from real life to pray and praise him. As if only the monk or the reclusive hermit with
no everyday responsibilities can worship 'properly'. Of course, we want to set aside time to focus exclusively on God. But we also worship as we walk. Just like David, we need God to lead us in his righteousness every waking moment. Every aspect of life, everything we do, every decision we make, is either about following his straight path, or turning aside to our own
way.
Let's pray that today we would be those who respond to God's
great love for us by both worshipping him and walking in the way he leads.
