Lead Us In The Right Path, Oh Lord

Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow. Psalm 5:8

David wrote Psalm 5 as a prayer to the Lord for guidance and for His protection from his enemies. In it, he expressed his trust in God’s holiness and justice.

It appears that David wrote a poetic prayer containing five stanzas. He instructed a flute would accompany its reading whether he sang the words or recited them.

When we pray, we sometimes wonder if our words even reach heaven. The Psalmist began the first couple of verses by assuring himself that God would give ear to his requests.

O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Psalm 5:1-2

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I don’t see this plea to God as one of desperation. If you look closely, you will notice two aspects of getting God’s attention. He began with humility, and he recognized God as his King.

God also wants us to seek Him like David did by glorifying Him and coming with humility. We don’t have to wonder if He hears us when we pray because we can pray in Jesus’ name.

I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. John 16:23-24

In his prayer, David referred to the consistency of his prayers to God. Evidently, the king made a habit of meeting with the Lord in prayer every morning.

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm5:3

Those Who Don’t Walk in the Right Path

In the second stanza, the Psalmist focused his conversation with God on those not walking on the right path. He wrote this prayer to instruct all who would read it to stay on the right path.

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. Psalm 5:4-5

He didn’t say that God “won’t” tolerate their sins. No, He said that God “cannot” tolerate their sins. The righteous attribute of God cannot tolerate the sinfulness of our wickedness.

Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. Psalm 5:5

When sin entered the human race, it took us to the complete opposite of the nature of God. At the moment Adam and Eve sinned, God could have entirely abolished His creation of humanity.

But instead, He had already worked out a plan of redemption. God couldn’t allow the sinful nature of humans into heaven. So, Jesus came to set us on the right path to salvation.

Many believe that the Lord is against us. God, however, loves us but takes no pleasure in our sinfulness. We can choose to stand with Him by accepting what Jesus did on the cross for us.

He shed His blood to cleanse us of our sin. Thus, Jesus made a way for us to stand in God’s presence. Those who don’t accept Him have chosen to suffer the consequences of their sin.

What the New Testament Says About Walking on the Right Path

In the book of Revelation, the Lord revealed to the apostle John what would happen to the wicked. In other words, those who enter eternity without Jesus.

But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. Revelation 21:8

Notice, if you will, how the writers wrote both this Psalm and Revelation. They didn’t write either one of them in the past tense, but they wrote them in the present tense.

God will judge according to our present situation of either unrighteous or righteous. He doesn’t send anyone to eternal damnation. We make that choice while living and breathing on this earth.

I saw a bumper sticker once that said, “I’m a sinner saved by grace.” Actually, the correct way to make that statement is, “I once was a sinner, but now I am saved by grace.”

Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11

After addressing those living in sin by walking on the wrong path, David began the third stanza. He asked God to point their lives in the right direction and shield the path they walk on.

God Takes No Pleasure In The Life Of The Wicked

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love. Psalm 5:11-12

I want to review those two closing verses. Look at the perks of everyone who chooses to walk on the right path of salvation. All who take refuge in the Lord can rejoice:

They will sing praises forever!
God will spread His protection over them.
He will fill those who love Him with joy.
God will surround them with a shield of love.

In the bullet points we just read, read them again and make those four statements personal. Say “I” for “they,” and for the words “them” and “those,” insert the word “me.”

Lord, thank you for setting us on the right path, the path of salvation. Bring our unsaved loved ones to a saving knowledge of your Son, Jesus.

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