Psalms 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness,.... Not in mine, but thine; in the righteousness of God, which is revealed in the Gospel, from faith to faith, and is imputed by God, and received by faith; in

Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. The matter of Psa 5:8-12 is parallel to that Psalms 5:3-7. A prayer; the plea whereon it rests; the hope resulting thence.

Lead me; direct my heart, and counsels, and affairs, and all the course and actions of my life. In thy righteousness; in thy righteous laws; which sometimes are called righteousness, as . Or, for, or because of, or according to thy righteousness; which is a phrase and argument frequently used in this Book of Psalms. Because of mine enemies; either, 1. That I may give them no occasion of slandering me, or religion for my sake. Or rather, 2. Because they are most malicious and mischievous, and withal cunning and treacherous, as he describes them in the next verse, (which he useth as an argument to enforce this petition,) and they lay snares for me, and if thou dost not assist me, will be too hard for me, and will triumph over me; which will reflect dishonour upon thee also. Thy way, i.e. the way wherein thou wouldst have me to walk, or the course which thou wouldst have me to take; for God’ s precepts or counsels are most commonly called his way. Straight, or plain, or smooth, that I may clearly discern it, and readily walk in it, without mistake, or let, or stumbling, or offence. This was a needful request, because many good men are oft at a loss what their duty is in several circumstances. And God granted this request to David, as in many other things, so in this, that he should not cut off Saul when he had opportunity and instigation to do it, 1 Samuel 24 1 Samuel 26, but that he should wait till God took him away. Before my face; to my view and for my walk; for men walk forward, not backward.

Psalms 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.Ver. 8. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness] That is, in thy faithfulness, and according to thy promise in that behalf made unto me, to be my God and guide even unto death, to lead me in the way everlasting, to direct my footsteps in thy fear, &c. Deduc me ut non titubem, saith R. David, Lead me, that I stumble not; or if I do, yet that I fall not; for he that stumbleth and falleth not gets ground. Because of mine enemies] Or, because of mine observers, who narrowly watch for my halting, that they might blaspheme thee, and thy religion through my default, 1 Samuel 18:9. Saul fixed his eyes upon David, but for no good to him. So 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:2, wicked men spy, and pry accurately (as the word εποπτευσαντες signifieth) into the courses of God’ s people, to see what evil they can find out and fasten on. We should, therefore, walk exactly, Ephesians 5:15, and pray earnestly, as here. Make thy way straight before my face] Remove all rubs and remoras, and lay all plain and level, that I may walk and not be weary, run and not faint, Isaiah 40:31.

(8) Enemies.—Literally, those watching for, or lying in wait. Aquila and Jerome both give “those lying in ambush.” God’s guidance and protection would enable the good man to avoid their snares, and to walk straight in the way of righteousness. To walk in God’s way is to walk in safety.

Verse 8. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness] When entered into the house, and prostrated before the temple, he knew that, unless God continued to lead and direct, he was not likely to profit even by such great advantages. We need God not only to bring us to his house, but to keep our feet while we are there. Because of mine enemies] His conduct was marked; his enemies looked upon and watched him with an evil eye. They would have been glad of his halting, that they might have brought a reproach on the good cause which he had espoused. O how cautiously should those walk who make a profession of living to God, of knowing themselves to be in his favour, and of being delivered from all sin in this life! Make thy way straight] Show me that I must go right on; and let thy light always shine on my path, that I may see how to proceed.

8. The prayer for guidance which is the main object and central thought of the Psalm. Lead me … in thy righteousness] i.e. because Thou art righteous. A comparison of Psa 23:3; Proverbs 8:20; Proverbs 12:28; might incline us to understand the meaning to be, ‘Lead me in the path of right conduct which Thou hast marked out for me:’ but the true parallels are Psalms 31:1, Psalms 71:2, Psalms 119:40, Psalms 143:1; Psalms 143:11; which shew clearly that God’s own righteousness is meant. One element of that righteousness is faithfulness to His saints in the fulfilment of covenant promises, and to this the Psalmist appeals. because of mine enemies] A peculiar word found only in Psalms 27:11, Psalms 54:5, Psalms 56:2, Psalms 59:10. Render, as in R.V. margin, them that lie in wait for me, like fowlers (Jeremiah 5:26, R.V.), or a leopard for its prey (Hosea 13:7). He prays that he may be preserved from falling into their snares. make thy way straight] Or, as P.B.V. and R.V., plain. The word means both level and straight. The godly man’s life is a path marked out for him by God (Psalms 17:5, Psalms 73:24, Psalms 86:11). He prays that it may be such that he may be in no danger of stumbling or losing his way. ‘Bring us not into temptation.’

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness - That is, conduct me safely in the manifestation of the principles of justice or righteousness which belong to thy nature.

8. In thy righteousness—It was not in human counsels and cognitions of right, but in Jehovah’s, that he was safe and might securely walk. Mine enemies—Strictly, my observers, those who watch for me—waylayers.