Psalm-5

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have completly disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ – ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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“Tehillim - Psalm 5”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Next I decided to do a study on Tehillim - Psalm 5 (JPS-1917 version). It is certainly a most interesting chapter.

Introduction: The Morning Sacrifice of Prayer:

Psalm 5 is a Mizmor (Psalm) of David, often categorized as a ‘Morning Prayer’. It is structured around the transition from the darkness of the night (and the darkness of the wicked) into the light of the Sanctuary.

The central theme is ‘Access’: Who is allowed to stand before the Almighty? David contrasts the ‘boastful’ and ‘workers of iniquity’, who cannot stand in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sight, with the righteous man who enters the House of אֱלֹהִים through "abundance of lovingkindness." It is a roadmap for how we should approach our Creator at the start of each day.

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Let us read Tehillim - Psalm Chapter 5: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh):

1 For the Leader; upon the Nehiloth. A Psalm of David.

2. Give ear to my words, O יְהוָה - LORD, consider my meditation.

3. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; for unto Thee do I pray.

4. O יְהוָה - LORD, in the morning shalt Thou hear my voice; in the morning will I order my prayer unto Thee, and will look forward.

5. For Thou art not a אֱלֹהִים - Elohim that hath pleasure in wickedness; evil shall not sojourn with Thee.

6. The boasters shall not stand in Thy sight; Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

7. Thou destroyest them that speak falsehood; יְהוָה - the LORD abhorreth the man of blood and of deceit.

8. But as for me, in the abundance of Thy lovingkindness will I come into Thy house; I will bow down toward Thy holy temple in the fear of Thee.

9. O יְהוָה - LORD, lead me in Thy righteousness because of them that lie in wait for me; make Thy way straight before my face.

10. For there is no sincerity in their mouth; their inward part is a yawning gulf, their throat is an open sepulchre; they make smooth their tongue.

11. Hold them guilty, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, let them fall by their own counsels;
cast them down in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against Thee.

12. So shall all those that take refuge in Thee rejoice, they shall ever shout for joy, and Thou shalt shelter them;
let them also that love Thy name exult in Thee.

13. For Thou dost bless the righteous; O יְהוָה -LORD, Thou dost encompass him with favour as with a shield.

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Psalm 5 offers a beautiful shift in tone. If Psalm 2 was a royal drama played out on the world stage, Psalm 5 is a deeply personal, morning prayer of a soul seeking entrance into the Presence of the Holy One.

Introduction: The Morning Sacrifice of Prayer.

The central theme is ‘Access’: Who is allowed to stand before the Almighty? David contrasts the ‘boastful’ and ‘workers of iniquity’, who cannot stand in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sight, with the righteous man who enters the House of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim through "abundance of lovingkindness." It is a roadmap for how we should approach our Creator at the start of each day.

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Now to our special ‘verse by verse’ with a commentary:

The Cry of the Morning (Verses 1-4):

Verse 1: “Give ear to my words ... consider my meditation”.

David asks אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to hear not just what he says out loud, but the unspoken thoughts of his heart”.

Verse 2: “My King, and my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim”.

By calling Him ‘King’ first, David acknowledges the same Sovereignty we saw in Tehillim - Psalm 2.

Verse 3: “In the morning, O LORD, shalt Thou hear my voice”.

In the days of the Temple, the morning sacrifice was the first act of the day. David views his prayer as a spiritual sacrifice that he ‘orders’ (prepares) before אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.

Verse 4: The character of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is established:

He is a אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who “hath no pleasure in wickedness”. Evil cannot ‘dwell’ with Him.

The Contrast of Characters (Verses 5-7):

Verse 5: “The boasters shall not stand in Thy sight”.

Those who are full of themselves leave no room for the Divine.

Verse 6: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim abhors “the man of blood and deceit”.

This highlights that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim judges both violent actions and dishonest speech.

Verse 7: The Turning Point. “But as for me, in the abundance of Thy lovingkindness (Chasdecha) will I come into Thy house”.

David knows he doesn't enter because he is perfect, but because אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is merciful. He enters with ‘fear’ (awe/reverence).

The Plea for Guidance (Verses 8-11):

Verse 8: “Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness ... make Thy way straight before my face”.

Because of his enemies, David asks for a clear path so he does not stumble into their traps.

Verse 9: A vivid description of the wicked.

Their throat is an ‘open sepulchre’ (grave). Their speech is smooth, but it leads to death.

Verse 10: David asks that they “fall by their own counsels”.

He is not asking for personal revenge, but for the natural consequences of their rebellion against אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.

Verse 11: Contrastly those who take refuge in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim "ever shout for joy."

The Final Blessing (Verse 12):

Verse 12: “For Thou dost bless the righteous... Thou wilt compass him with favour as with a shield”.

The Psalm ends with the image of a ‘shield’ (tzinnah), a large shield that protects the entire body.

Let us now look as some of the Cross-References (JPS-1917 Tanakh):

1. Psalm 130:6 (Waiting for the Morning):

The verse: “My soul waiteth for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning”.

Insight: This connects to Verse 3. The ‘ordering’ of prayer in the morning is an act of eager anticipation for the Divine Light.

2. Habakkuk 1:13 (Purity of Vision):

The verse: “Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on mischief”.

Insight: This provides the theological backing for Verse 5. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s very nature makes it impossible for ‘boasters’ to stand in His sight.

3. Psalm 55:22 (The Smooth Speech):

The verse: “Smoother than cream were the words of his mouth, but his heart was war”.

Insight: This enriches the commentary on Verse 10 regarding the ‘flattering tongue’.

In Conclusion: The Shield of Favour:

There was the Hebrew word for ‘shield’ in the final verse 12: ‘Tzinnah’. Unlike the Magen (a small, hand-held shield), the Tzinnah was a large shield that covered the warrior from head to foot. The Psalm teaches us that prayer is our morning ‘preparation’. We start by aligning our hearts with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s holiness, we distance ourselves from deceitful speech, and in return, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim will surround us with what seems to be a 360-degree shield of ‘love’ and ‘favour’.

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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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