Psalms 5:2

2 Listen to the sound of my pleading, my king and my God, for to you I pray.

Psalms 5:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 5:2

Hearken unto the voice of my cry
Which seems to intend more than groans or words, even a loud outcry, as of a person in great distress; such as the strong crying of Christ, in the days of his flesh, when on the cross, forsaken by God, deserted by his friends, and surrounded by his enemies, ( Hebrews 5:7 ) ; and such, in some measure, was the case of David. The arguments used by him, that the Lord would hearken to him, are as follow: and the first is taken from his interest in the Lord, and his relation to him,

my King and my God;
the Lord was David's King in a civil sense; though David was a king over others, yet the Lord, who is the King of kings, was King over him, and he owned him to be so; he was set upon the throne by him, had his kingdom from him, and was accountable to him: and he was his King in a natural sense, the kingdom of nature and providence belonging to him, as he was his Creator, preserver, protector, and defender; and in a spiritual sense, he being delivered from the dominion of other lords, sin, Satan, and the world, and brought to a subjection to him by his Spirit and grace; and so to own him as his King and Lawgiver, as well as his Saviour. And he was his God; not in a general way, as he is the God of the spirits of all flesh living; nor merely in the peculiar way in which he was the God of the people of Israel; but in a most special manner, as being his covenant God and Father in Christ. He was his God, not only as the God of nature and providence, but as the God of all grace; who had distinguished him by special and spiritual blessings and favours; and whom David loved, believed in, and worshipped as his God. And this his interest in him, and relation to him, he uses with great pertinence and propriety, as an argument that he might be heard by him; since the Lord was his King, and he his subject; the Lord was his God, and he one of his people; the Lord was his father, and he a child of his; and therefore entreats and hopes to be heard; see ( Isaiah 63:15 Isaiah 63:16 ) . His next argument is taken from his resolution to pray to him, and to continue to do so:

for unto thee will I pray;
and only to thee: not to the gods of the Heathen, to idols, the works of men's hands, who can neither hear nor save: and to thee always; suggesting, that he would never leave off praying till he was heard; he would give him no rest, day nor night, until he received an answer.

Psalms 5:2 In-Context

1 Hear my words, O Yahweh. Give heed to my sighing.

2 Listen to the sound of my pleading, my king and my God, for to you I pray.

3 O Yahweh, in [the] morning you will hear my voice. In [the] morning I will set forth [my case] to you and I will watch.

4 For you [are] not a God [who] desires wickedness. Evil cannot dwell with you.

5 The boastful do not stand before your eyes. You hate all evildoers.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "cry for help"