This psalm is a prayer to God against the wicked. It was probably said as a morning prayer. It begins with a plea to hear his words. Verse 2 repeats the same thing: hear the voice of my cry, my King and God and gives a reason - to you do I pray. There is a certainty that God hears when we pray. The psalmist says - in the morning, you shall hear my voice - in the morning, I will pray to you and will wait expectantly.
When we pray, God hears - whether we feel it or not. This is a certainty. When we pray, we look forward to what God will do. We pray expecting that God will intervene and do as we ask - especially, if it is a prayer for justice and against wickedness.
God has no pleasure in wickedness and evil cannot live with God.
David then proceeds to define what this means. Those who trust in themselves - the arrogant. Those who work evil. Those who lie, and kill and deceive. These are the wicked that God will not tolerate.
David then proceeds to say that he comes to God's house, because of God's lovingkindness. There is trust in God's lovingkindness and he comes in awe of God. David did not trust in his own strength or righteousness. He asks God to lead him because there are a lot of people who wait for him. He is confronted with their lies and insincerity.
Indeed, there are a lot of people who can speak well - yet they say nothing. They know how to say the right words, but their intent is for their selfishness. David asks God to hold these people guilty. These people were probably close to him - perhaps some were his advisers. From the words they speak, he would not know who was speaking the truth or the lie. So he prays to God to make straight his way.
David does not lift up his hand against these people. He prays that God will hold them guilty and that these will fall by their own counsel. Interesting to note is that he speaks of those who provide insincere counsel as rebels to God. Insincerity is rebellion against God.
When these fall by their own greed and folly, those who trust in the Lord will rejoice. God blesses the righteous and protects those who love him.
Father, give me confidence that you hear my prayers. Let me not trust in myself. Instead, let me trust in your lovingkindness and mercy. May I speak only words of truth O God.
