David wrote this Psalm to be sung. He wrote it for flutes. This reinforces, for me, that music and singing really does bless God. My friend Tim believes that music will be the language of heaven.
I’m also struck by how David pleads for God to listen to him. Do we really need to do that? I don’t think so; I think God listens to us whenever we talk to Him. But sometimes I forget how awesome and holy our God really is. Do I give Him the time of day? Do I treat Him as if He ruled the universe? Not usually. I talk to Him like I talk to anyone else. Sometimes I even talk to him with a lack of respect. David fears God; he bows before Him; he treats him as the King He really is.
1 To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.
3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
Psalm 5:1-3 (ESV)
Then look at 5:7 . . .
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
David understood that God deserves respect. And he gave it to God. And even though David sinned (he committed some atrocious sins) God still said that David was a man after His own heart.
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.”
Acts 13:22
If David was a man after God’s heart, I figure looking at David as an example couldn’t hurt.
I also love the end of this Psalm because it gives me hope for the future (for this life and the next). Again I see an emphasis on singing, and again I see the concept of eternity in an Old Testament passage:
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:11-12 (ESV)