Psalms 5:7

My Notes

What Does Psalms 5:7 Mean?

David declares how he will approach God: "I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple." Two grounds for approach: God's abundant mercy (the basis) and reverential fear (the posture). David comes because God is merciful, and he comes with trembling because God is holy.

The phrase "in the multitude of thy mercy" (berov chasdekha — in the abundance of your covenant faithfulness) establishes that access to God's house is based on the volume of God's mercy, not the quality of David's merit. The mercy is "multitude" — not a single act but an abundance, a storehouse, a surplus that exceeds any single need. David approaches God's house riding on the wave of accumulated divine kindness.

The worship "toward thy holy temple" (el-hekhal qodshekha) is directional: David isn't yet inside. He's worshipping toward the temple — oriented in the right direction, approaching with the right posture, headed toward the sacred space. The worship begins before the arrival. The fear and the mercy combine to produce worship that's already happening on the way in.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Do you approach God on the basis of your merit or the multitude of his mercy — and what's the practical difference?
• 2.How does the fear (posture) work alongside the mercy (basis) rather than contradicting it?
• 3.What does worship 'toward' the temple (not yet inside) teach about the approach being worship itself?
• 4.Where does your approach to God need more mercy-confidence or more reverential fear?

Devotional

I will come. Into your house. On the basis of your abundant mercy. In the posture of your fear. David's approach to worship combines two realities: the mercy that makes the approach possible and the fear that shapes the posture of the one approaching.

The 'multitude of mercy' is the ticket — not David's worthiness. The abundance of God's chesed (covenant faithfulness, loyal love) is what grants access to God's house. David doesn't earn the right to enter. He enters on the basis of God's accumulated, overflowing, surplus mercy. The mercy is so abundant that it covers whatever disqualification David carries. The multitude handles the deficit.

The fear is the posture — not the ticket. You enter on mercy (basis) and you worship in fear (posture). The mercy gets you through the door. The fear shapes how you behave once inside. The approach isn't casual even though the access is gracious. The same God whose mercy invited you in is the holy God whose temple demands reverence.

The directional worship — toward the temple — means David is worshipping before he arrives. The approach is itself worship. The walk toward God's house is conducted in the posture of fear and on the basis of mercy. You don't wait until you're inside to start worshipping. The orientation of your steps, the direction of your attention, the posture of your approach — all of it is worship.

This verse resolves the tension between grace and holiness: God's mercy invites you and God's holiness defines the terms. You come freely (abundant mercy) and you come carefully (reverential fear). Both are present in the same step toward the same temple. The invitation is generous. The approach is reverent. And the worship happens on the way in.

How do you approach God — on the basis of your merit or the multitude of his mercy? And does your posture reflect the fear his holiness deserves?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture