Introduction
Psalm 5: Today’s reading is a personal prayer for protection from enemies. The writer expresses trust in God’s love and asks God to punish those who speak deceitfully.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 5:12 GNT
You bless those who obey you, LORD; your love protects them like a shield.
Read
5 Listen to my words, O Lord,
and hear my sighs.
2 Listen to my cry for help,
my God and king!
I pray to you, O Lord;
3 you hear my voice in the morning;
at sunrise I offer my prayer
and wait for your answer.
4 You are not a God who is pleased with wrongdoing;
you allow no evil in your presence.
5 You cannot stand the sight of the proud;
you hate all wicked people.
6 You destroy all liars
and despise violent, deceitful people.
7 But because of your great love
I can come into your house;
I can worship in your holy Temple
and bow down to you in reverence.
8 Lord, I have so many enemies!
Lead me to do your will;
make your way plain for me to follow.
9 What my enemies say can never be trusted;
they only want to destroy.
Their words are flattering and smooth,
but full of deadly deceit.
10 Condemn and punish them, O God;
may their own plots cause their ruin.
Drive them out of your presence
because of their many sins
and their rebellion against you.
11 But all who find safety in you will rejoice;
they can always sing for joy.
Protect those who love you;
because of you they are truly happy.
12 You bless those who obey you, Lord;
your love protects them like a shield.
Reflect
How is God described in this psalm? What does the psalmist ask of God? What would you do if you heard someone making hurtful and deceitful remarks about another person?
Pray
Lord God, you listen to my words and hear my sighs. Lead me to do your will; make your way plain for me to follow. Guard my lips this day from speaking evil. I trust in your love, O Lord, which protects me like a shield. Amen.
And now, join in praising God that God’s Word is transforming lives in South Asia. Sovereign God, because of your grace, people in some of the hardest-to-reach corners of South Asia are hearing and experiencing the life-changing power of your Word for the very first time. Many people suffer intense discrimination and poverty and still need to receive the Bible in their heart language so they can encounter the life-giving hope found in Scripture. Thank you for stirring the hearts of Bible-A-Month Partners. Because of their generosity, people are encountering Jesus through the audio Bible, and communities are gathering to listen to your Word together. We praise you, Lord, for the stories of salvation and hope that are now being shared across South Asia. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Isaiah 37:1–20: Judah’s King Hezekiah asks the prophet Isaiah for advice.
