Short Explanation on Psalm 5

Psalms 5 -
Title - “To the Chief Musician upon Nehiloth, a Psalm of David.” The Hebrew word Nehiloth is taken from another word, signifying “to perforate, to bore through,” whence it comes to mean a pipe or a flute; so that this song was probably intended to be sung with an accompaniment of wind instruments, such as the horn, the, trumpet, flute, or cornet. However, it is proper to remark that we are not sure of the interpretation of these ancient titles, for the Septuagint translates it, “For him who shall obtain inheritance,” and Aben Ezra thinks it denotes some old and well-known melody to which this Psalm was to be played. The best scholars confess that great darkness hangs over the precise interpretation of the titles; nor is this much to be regretted, for it furnishes an internal evidence of the great antiquity of the Book. Throughout the Psa_1:1-6, Psa_2:1-12, Psa_3:1-8, and Psa_4:1-8, you will have noticed that the subject is a contrast between the position, the character, and the prospects of the righteous and of the wicked. In this Psalm you will note the same. The Psalmist carries out a contrast between himself made righteous by God's grace, and the wicked who opposed him. To the devout mind there is here presented a precious view of the Lord Jesus, of whom it is said that in the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers and supplication with strong crying and tears.
Division - The Psalm should be divided into two parts, from the first to the seventh verse, and then from the eighth to the twelfth. In the first part of the Psalm David most vehemently beseeches the Lord to hearken to his prayer, and in the second part he retraces the same ground.
Hints to Preachers
Psa_5:1, Psa_5:2 - Prayer in its threefold form. “Words, meditation, cry.” Showing how utterance is of no avail without heart, but that fervent longings and silent desires are accepted, even when unexpressed.
Psa_5:3 - The excellence of morning devotion.
Psa_5:3 (last two clauses).
1. Prayer directed.
2. Answers expected.
Psa_5:4 - God's hatred of sin an example to his people.
Psa_5:5 - “The foolish.” Show why sinners are justly called fools.
Psa_5:7 - “Multitude of thy mercy.” Dwell upon the varied grace and goodness of God.
Psa_5:7 - The devout resolution.
Psa_5:7
I. Observe the singularity of the resolution.
II. Mark the object of the resolution. It regards the service of God in the sanctuary. “I will come into thine house.... in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy temple.”
III. The manner in which he would accomplish the resolution.
(1) Impressed with a sense of the divine goodness: “I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy.”
(2) Filled with holy veneration: “And in thy fear will I worship.”
- William Jay, 1842.
Psa_5:8 - God's guidance needed always, and especially when enemies are watching us.
Psa_5:10 - Viewed as a threatening. The sentence, “Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,” is specially fitted to be the groundwork of a very solemn discourse.
Psa_5:11
I. The character of the righteous: faith and love.
II. The privileges of the righteous.
(1) Joy - great, pure, satisfying, triumphant (shout), constant (ever).
(2) Defence - by power, providence, angels, grace, etc.
Psa_5:11 - Joy in the Lord both a duty and a privilege.
Psa_5:12 (first clause) - The divine blessing upon the righteous. It is ancient effectual, constant, extensive, irreversible, surpassing, eternal, infinite.
Psa_5:12 (second clause) - A sense of divine favour a defence to the soul