Paul J. Bucknell
“5:6 Thou dost destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit. 5:7 But as for me, by Thine abundant lovingkindness I will enter Thy house, At Thy holy temple I will bow in reverence for Thee. 5:8 O LORD, lead me in Thy righteousness because of my foes; Make Thy way straight before me.” (Psalm 5:7).
Finding Grace in the Old Testament
Let's put aside any toyish thoughts concluding that Paul's gospel is different from what is so clearly taught and illustrated in the Old Testament. In the past year, I have heard an increasing number of people claiming Paul's Gospel as being essentially different from that of the Old Testament. This is incredible and only possible when one ignores huge swaths of Old Testament scripture.
Either the Psalmist enters through grace or by works. Certainly, as the Old Testament clearly ascertains, David was no saint. Nor was Abraham. Paul points this out in the Book of Romans chapter 4. Take a look at these Romans 4:1-12 study questions. “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’” (Rom 4:2-3).
"But as for me, by Thine abundant lovingkindness I will enter Thy house, At Thy holy temple I will bow in reverence for Thee" (Psalm 5:7).
If the Psalmist enters God's house by grace (Hebrew chesed), then it cannot by by works. (Here is word study on the word "grace" or otherwise translated in Psalm 5:7 "lovingkindness" (Hebrew: chesed).)
We are saved through faith in God's grace through Christ. If by faith in God's grace, then he can no longer be of works (Eph 2:8-9). Here are some other free study questions for you!
In Psalm 5:8 we find that the Psalmist boasts in God leading him through His righteousness, “O LORD, lead me in Thy righteousness” (Psalm 5:8). Yes, we seek righteous lives but we are saved through Christ’s righteousness. Any righteousness that we live out issues from our salvation in Christ and the very righteous nature given to us through the Holy Spirit (think righteous, sacred).
t is God’s supreme grace by which we are taken to higher levels to worship Him from the depths of our hearts. Without a knowledge of God’s mercy and grace, our worship stays at a bare minimum. David rightly bowed in reverence because it was not by works but by God’s abundant lovingkindness.