“But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.” (Psalms 5:7)

David’s path to come before God is explained in these verses in the avenue of prayer (read Psalms 5:1-7). Prayer is defined as a Perception; a Place; a Position; and a Petition before God by the child of God. Prayer incorporates an attitude of the child of God of humility, and not pride; not demanding of God; but, a remembering who God is; and a revealing to God of the believer’s requests. The requests of the believer in prayer must be based upon the promises of the Word of God; which will then be in the will of God for the believer (1 Jn. 5:14). The prayer of the believer to God does not have as its goal to change God; but, rather to honor God in the believer’s surrender and submission to the Sovereignty and Will of God. Prayer does not change the Purpose or the Plan of God; but, prayer changes the believer. Prayer to God by the believer is also a witness to the believer, and to others, that the believer is indeed a child of God.

Prayer not only honors God; but, there are many wonderful benefits to the believer that are received in true prayer to God:

1. First, is the Perception in Prayer: David said in Psalms 5:2, “…My King and my God for unto Thee do I pray.” David knew Who God was, and Who God was to him. By calling God “King,” David acknowledged to God of his understanding that in his position as king of Israel, he was subservient to The King of all kings, God. Not only was Jehovah David’s King (or Head; or Authority; or Ruler over him); but, David called his King, God. The Hebrew Word used here is “Elohiym” which means “the Supreme God.” This same Hebrew Word “Elohiym” is translated “God” in (Gen. 1:1), “in the beginning God created…” Therefore, the attitude the believer is to have in prayer to God is: he must have a perception of Who God is; and who he is in relation to God. This is the first step in humbling yourself before Almighty God.
2. Secondly, the believer must have a Place of Prayer: (Psa. 5:3, 7); (Psalms 5:3) “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” For David, the place was two-fold: (1) “…in the morning” This is the way for the believer to start his day; that is in prayer, looking up to God. If the believer wants to know God’s Plan for the day; he must go to the Planner Himself, and get the correct information for his day. The only way to have a successful day for the believer is: to know God’s plans for him that day; and to surrender to, and submit to, the will of God for that day. The believer cannot see the future; nor can he understand the events of any given day without the mind of Christ guiding and leading him by faith, knowing that God has good for him, no matter the current situation. (2) (Psa. 5:7)“But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy.” First, David sought God in prayer in the morning; next David came into the “Thy House.” In David’s case, it meant going into the Tabernacle of God, which was Israel’s meeting place with God. God’s house today is where God dwells; and He dwells in the believer (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20). Therefore, God must dwell in a person if he is to approach God.
3. Thirdly, the believer must have a correct Position of Prayer: (Psa. 5:7)“But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.” The Position of Prayer is again the attitude of: (1) An understanding of the Mercy of God on the believer. That is, know and confess that Salvation is of the Lord and of Him alone. Confess that once the believer was blind (dead spiritually in trespasses and sin), and without hope; unless God gave him a spiritual resurrection from death to life. This understanding comes to the sinner in regeneration and conversion (1 Jn. 5:20). (2) The believer will approach God “…in thy fear…” (Prov. 9:10) explains the “fear of the Lord”: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.” This means that the believer comes to God in prayer knowing Who God is and who he is. He understands who is the Head and who is the servant. He knows Who is the Power and who needs the power. This is how the believer approaches God, with an understanding of God’s mercy to him, and an understanding of Who God is, and who he is. (3) The believer knows why he is there; and that is, “…will I worship toward thy holy temple.” David knew, and every believer must know, that he is to worship God when he comes into the presence of God. Here again is the Attitude of the believer in prayer. Prayer first is to Remember who God is; and He is the Creator, Controller and Consummator of all His creation. God is Holy, Righteous and True; and is first worthy of the believer’s worship (or adoration). Praise is the foundation of true worship of God. The basis of all Praise is Who God is; and He is The Beginning and the End; He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the only true and Living God. He alone is Life and the Giver of Life. He is the Origin of all things; He is First, and all things flow from Him. The believer knows without the Love, Mercy and Grace of God, he would have no salvation, and no hope of eternal life with God; for the believer knows, he is what he is by the grace of God. Therefore, the believer’s Position in Prayer is one of Understanding, and one of Worship.
4. Then Fourthly, the Believer renders his Petition to God: (Psa. 5:1-2) “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. (2) Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.” David had several individual items in his petition to God. But, for brevity (Psa. 5:8) “Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.”  David said to God, “lead me” and “make thy way straight” or in other words, ‘God You lead and cause me to follow Your leadership.’ When the believer prays to God; the believer must desire God’s Way, and His Will, above his own desires; for he knows that God is Right, Just, and Good in all His plans and purposes for the believer.

In conclusion, David uttered the following proclamation to “all those that put their trust in Thee.” (Psa. 5:11) “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”

Why did David make this statement? The answer, (Psa. 5:12) “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”  This is the Foundation of David when he prayed to God; this is the Confidence of David when he prayed to God; this is the Result of the prayer to God; therefore, David said, “Rejoice, ever shout for joy, be joyful.”

Why?       “…because Thy Defendest them…”  Believer, This is How You are to Approach God.