Mike's Day 6: Psalm 5

The Psalmist asks God to consider his sighing, his cries for help, which he
brings before God on a daily basis. God does not take pleasure in evil, and
abbhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful. In contrast, the Psalmist's way will be
made straight as he worships God at the temple. He reminds God that the
wicket cannot be trusted and asks God to banish them for their rebellion.
Finally he asks God's blessing on the righteous.

This is one of the dualisms in the book of Psalms: the difference between the wicked and the righteous.

The wicked are right royal schemers, manipulators, liars etc., who create intrigues in which others fall like an 'open grave'. On the other hand, the righteous (or 'the godly' Psalm 4) are not only those who do the opposite of lie, take pleasure in evil, but, primarily, take refuge in God.

So, the difference is not only moral, it is theological, that is, it relates to the character of God - Psalms is defining God as the god who hates evil and loves righteousness, and a key feature of evil is that is that it is 'rebellion' against God.

I should add, there is not a hint of smug self-satisfaction. Instead, the approach of the Psalmist is one of reverence and humility in coming to God for salvation. Jesus would have known such Psalms well.

Like Ps. 4, Ps. 5 has an opening call or invitation/request to God, and ends with a declaration of his protection and the vindication of the righteous: "For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with favour as with a shield."