Ps. 144 & 5

Good morning!  I read Ps. 144 yesterday but because I went into the pregnancy care center to counsel I didn't have time to write here, so will include it with my study of Ps. 5 which is today's reading.  I found a list of the Psalms in chronological order so that is how I am reading them.  I think it will be 5 months before I am finished with the book of Psalms, maybe longer as I am not sure I will be able to read Ps. 119 all in one sitting!  Anyway, here is the 1st 7 Psalms in order if you're interested in reading along with me:
Ps. 90, 113, 144, 5, 59, 133, 34, & 52.
I've already posted in regard to Ps. 90 and 113 so today is 144 & 5.  Normally, it'll only be one Psalm about which I post but Wed. & Fri. I probably won't post unless it's an extremely short Psalm.  I forgot to mention previously that Psalm means "a poem set to notes" (#4210).

Psalm 144 ~
Verses 1-8 [written by David] are very similar to Ps. 18:1-5.  It's possible that both Psalms were written under similar circumstances-the day the Lord delivered David from the hand of his enemies and from the hand of Saul [cf. II Samuel 22:1-8].
I have an outline for this Psalm but before I give that I noted in verses 1 & 2, six things/benefits that God provides, but 1st, notice that David blesses the Lord who is his rock...That is David's sure, unshakeable foundation.  Can we say the same?
The Hebrew for Rock is:
    6697.  צוּר tsûwr, tsoor; or צֻר tsûr, tsoor; from 6696; prop. a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); gen. a rock or boulder; fig. a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous):—edge, × (mighty) God (one), rock, × sharp, stone, × strength, × strong.

Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 2, p. 99). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

The cross reference for Rock is Ps 18:2, 31 & 46
I. God's greatness v 1-2
   A.  6 benefits {of having the Lord as our Rock}
       1.  Steadfast love (#2617 meaning kindness)
       2.  A Fortress (#4686 meaning castle, defence, fort, stronghold)
       3.  A Stronghold (#4869 meaning a cliff or other lofty or inaccessible place)
       4.  A Deliverer (#6403 meaning to slip out, escape, deliver, carry away safe)
       5.  A Shield (#4043 meaning a shield (i.e. the small one or buckler)
       6.  A Refuge (#2620 to flee for protection, to confide in:—have hope, make refuge, (put) trust.
See how God cares for us?!
II. Man's insignificance v 3-4 {Eternal God contrasted with short-lived man; Ps.8:4}
III. God's Power v 5-8 {God as a warrior}
IV. Man's Praise v 9-10 {A song of victory/celebration-cross references:  33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 149:1; Rev. 5:9; 14:3}
V.  God's Blessing v 11-15 {rescue of David's Kingdom (from foreigners) would bring blessing to both families & the agriculture & peace, not strife would characterize the land}
“How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!” for He cares for us personally, delivers us victoriously, and blesses us bountifully.

Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 210). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.

Psalm 5 ~
As I read this Psalm I remembered a song [of course it helped that I had musical notes in the margin of my Bible!] so I went to look for it and have linked it here.

HEADING: “A Prayer for Protection.” Other headings are: “Morning prayer”; “Beginning the day with God”; “Prayer for divine help.”
Hebrew title: To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.
The musical direction given To the choirmaster  tells him to use flutes in the accompaniment of this psalm. Only here does this Hebrew word appear in the Old Testament, and it may mean “wind instruments” in general or “flutes” in particular. In many languages the term choirmaster must be rendered by means of a descriptive phrase; for example, “The one who leads when people sing” or “The leader of the singers.”Bratcher, R. G., & Reyburn, W. D. (1991). A translator’s handbook on the book of Psalms (p. 49). New York: United Bible Societies.

This Psalm is basically a lament & prayers for protection but also declarations of innocence & confidence.
Verses 1-3 are considered a morning prayer and because vs 3 repeats "in the morning" it stresses that his first thoughts of each day were prayer.  Can I say the same? David was standing in the presence of the Lord as he put his enemies before God, "Listen to me Eternal one, understand my murmurings" is how I would paraphrase verse one.  
Give ear is a request that God would pay careful attention to the supplicant & his sufferings.  Cross references are Ps. 17:1 and 55:1-2.  Meditation - (#1901 to murmur in pleasure or anger) cross reference Ps. 39:3-venting, but not before men but God. (The noun translated groaning [he prays because he is suffering and in distress] appears only here and in Ps. 39:3).
Seeing the prosperity of the wicked and hearing their blasphemous words so angered David that he wanted to retaliate and say something to defend God, but he deemed it best to keep quiet. But this restraint only made his heart burn with intense pain (see 32:3 and Jer. 20:9) until finally he had to speak out. The two Emmaeus disciples had “burning hearts” because of the way the Lord h ad expounded the Word to them, and Ezekiel had anguish in his spirit because of the difficult calling God had given him. David didn’t even say good things; he just kept quiet as long as he could. There is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7), and wise is the person who knows the difference. David didn’t argue with God (v. 9) or with those who reproached him, but he did pray to the Lord.  Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., p. 150). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.
Verse 2 I would paraphrase as, "Prick up your ears & hear my loud cry my King & Supreme God"...David knew that God was the ultimate King of not only Israel but the whole earth.  As one commentary put it:  Hearken translates another Hebrew verb meaning “listen, pay attention.”
Verses 4-7 is about David's confidence in approaching a God who hates iniquity (evil). An evil person cannot dwell with such a God. People who are presumptuous and boastful, who do not shrink from murder or deceit, God hates and will destroy. They are totally detestable to Him. In contrast with such wickedness David did not extol his own virtues. Rather he stressed God’s mercy (#2617 ḥeseḏ, “loyal love”) toward him. By this he could approach the tabernacle (not referring to the temple Solomon) & was the same word used in  to worship the Lord in reverence. The Hebrew word for bow down (often trans. “worshiped,” e.g., Ex. 34:8 - 7812.  שָׁחָה shâchâh, shaw-khaw´; a prim. root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (espec. reflex. in homage to royalty or God):—bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.) signifies prostrating oneself, a posture that represents the proper inner attitude toward God in worship. The wicked are arrogant; a worshiper is humble before God.
Verses 8-12 - The central idea for these verses is David’s prayer for guidance This prayer is for guidance in … righteousness. Because God is righteous, and because the enemies are wicked (vv. 4–6), David’s desire was to follow the path of right conduct (make straight Your way before me) and not be numbered among those God hates. The word for enemies comes from the verb “to lie in wait.”  Because of the danger of these enemies lying in wait, David's prayer is for God to judge them. He then cataloged their sins. They were untrustworthy in their words, deceitful in their flattery. They planned destruction.  Apparently their speech was flattering on the surface but vile in its intent. For this, David called on God to hold them guilty.
Verses 11 & 12 are a note of encouragement.  Singing is a natural way to praise the Lord and using the The Lord’s “name” refers to His character and attributes revealed to mankind.  Sing your praise!! Hopefully you were blessed by this today!