Psalms 5:7

7 But because of your great love I can come into your house; I can worship in your holy Temple and bow down to you in reverence.

Psalms 5:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 5:7

But as for me, I will come [into] thy house
The tabernacle of Moses, sometimes called the house of God, ( 1 Chronicles 9:23 ) ; for as yet the temple was not built. Here David had been used to go in times past; and though he was now in a kind of exile from it, he was confident he should again enter into and determined so to do whenever he had an opportunity, and that in the following manner:

in the multitude of thy mercy;
grace or goodness. God is rich in mercy, abundant in goodness and truth; there is a multitude of mercy, love, and grace in his heart, and which is stored up in his covenant, and displayed in his Son, and in the provision of him as a Saviour of lost sinners; abundant mercy is shown in regeneration, in adoption, and in the forgiveness of sins, and in every spiritual blessing, and in the gift of eternal life. And now, not relying on his own merits, strength, and righteousness, or leaning to his own understanding, but trusting in the mercy, grace, and goodness of God in Christ, and in hope of finding more grace and mercy to help in time of need; with thankfulness for what he had received, he determines, by divine leave and assistance, to enter, into the house of the Lord: and whatever other persons did, whom he had before described, it was his resolution to serve the Lord, under a sense of his mercy and goodness to him; which laid him under an obligation so to do, and is the true principle from which all service should proceed;

[and] in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple;
either heaven, the habitation of God's holiness, towards which, and to God there, the psalmist would lift up his eyes, his hands, and heart; or the tabernacle, at the door of which the worship of God was performed, the sacrifices were brought, and God met his people; and therefore he says he would worship towards the temple or tabernacle, ( Leviticus 1:3 ) ( Exodus 29:42 Exodus 29:43 ) . And it may be that David has reference to the Messiah, the medium of divine worship; whose human nature was typified by the tabernacle and temple, in which the fulness of the Godhead dwells: the psalmist therefore purposes to worship God in Christ, and to perform all acts of worship, as prayer, praise, hearing the word, offering sacrifice in the name and faith of Christ; looking towards him for the presentation of his services by him, and for the acceptance of them with God through him: and this he desired to do in the "fear" of God; not with a slavish fear, but with reverence and godly fear; with a fear influenced by the multitude of God's mercy, grace, and goodness, in art humble modest manner, not trusting to, or depending upon, any service done by him.

Psalms 5:7 In-Context

5 You cannot stand the sight of the proud; you hate all wicked people.
6 You destroy all liars and despise violent, deceitful people.
7 But because of your great love I can come into your house; I can worship in your holy Temple and bow down to you in reverence.
8 Lord, I have so many enemies! Lead me to do your will; make your way plain for me to follow.
9 What my enemies say can never be trusted; they only want to destroy. Their words are flattering and smooth, but full of deadly deceit.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.