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Psalm 5

            Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. (Psalm5:1-7)

          I learned a version of this song back in college, which probably makes it one of my favorites. It’s a psalm, it’s supposed to be sung. The link that follows will take you to a version of it. It’s not the best rendition I’ve ever heard, but I love the song: https://youtu.be/mVfjusmz06M

          This is also a song with which I am comfortable, at first. It’s like my own song to God – “Listen to my words…consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray…I lay my requests before You…” But while the singers include “and will look up,” I don’t tend to. There’s no expectant waiting. I tend to skip that.

          But I move on to the next part as it talks about the type of people of God doesn’t approve. I often top that list. And then I skip most of the end of the song. Oh, there tends to be some bowing of the knee, the surrender to God’s will with the general idea that it’s going to hurt.

          This is one of the reasons I need to be looking at the Psalms, because they bring balance. Petition and praise, repentance and requests – but above all of those, faith. I need to pray in the morning and wait expectantly. I need to come into His house and revere Him.

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