American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 112
ARC Prayer Meeting
This past Sunday at ARC, we expounded Psalm 5:9–12. We learned that David begins Psalm 5 with prayer and ends with confidence. Between those two points stood the reality of evil. David teaches us that prayer is not an escape from a wicked world—it is one of God's means for overcoming it. When surrounded by deceit, opposition, and injustice, the believer does not panic or retaliate. He prays and acts upon God’s Word.
Prayer Faces Reality Honestly. "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction." David does not minimize evil. He recognizes that the enemies of God are deceptive, destructive, and rebellious. Their words are flattering, but their hearts are corrupt.
Prayer begins with honesty. We do not come before God pretending everything is fine. We lay before Him our burdens, betrayals, and the dangers we face.
Principle: Prayer is not denial of reality. It is not mind over matter. It is bringing reality before the throne of God. The Apostle Peter echoed this truth: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) Instead of carrying bitterness, which is tempting, (If you swallow it, it will lead to defilement) David carries his concerns to God’s Throne of Grace.
2. Prayer Leaves Judgment in God's Hands. "Pronounce them guilty, O God!" These words often trouble modern Christians. David is not seeking personal revenge. He is asking the righteous Judge to uphold justice. The Psalms are full of imprecatory prayers. More on that later.
Paul later expresses the same principle: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves... 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." (Romans 12:19).
Prayer frees us from becoming consumed with hatred and revenge. Instead of taking matters into our own hands, we entrust justice to the One who judges perfectly. The Judge of the earth will always do what is right. Charles Spurgeon observed that the safest place for our anger is at the feet of God, where He transforms it into holy trust.
3. Prayer Produces Joy in God's Presence. "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You." Notice the contrast. The wicked end in judgment. The righteous end in joy. Nothing outward may have changed. David's enemies may still be present. Yet, prayer changed David. Those who trust God find refuge beneath His care.
Isaiah declared: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You" (Isaiah 26:3). Prayer moves the believer from anxiety to blessed assurance.
4. Prayer Rests in God's Favor. "For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield." The final image is awesome. God's favor is not merely in front of us or behind us—it surrounds us like a great shield. The Hebrew picture is that of a large shield protecting the entire body. The believer's greatest protection is not wealth, strength, or influence—it is the favor of God.
Jesus lived under that favor. Though surrounded by enemies, falsely accused, betrayed, and crucified, He continually withdrew to pray. His communion with the Father sustained Him through every trial.
Psalm 5 teaches us to pray:
• When surrounded by deception, pray for discernment.
• When wronged, pray for God to be your defense and vindication.
• When fearful, pray until trust replaces anxiety.
• When uncertain, remember that God's favor surrounds His children like a shield.
Prayer does not always remove the battle, but it reminds us who fights for us in the battle. David began this Psalm with a cry and ended with confidence. Nothing in his circumstances necessarily changed, but everything changed in his heart because he communed with God.
That is one of the blessings of prayer. We bring our burdens to God, leave justice in His hands, find joy in His presence, and walk away protected by His favor.
As the old hymn declares: "O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer."
May we be a people who begin every day as David did—in prayer—and end every day resting in the confidence that "the Lord will bless the righteous; with favor He will surround him as with a shield."
