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Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me.   Psalm 5:8  NASB

Because – What is the psalmist’s solution to an enemy attack?  “Lead me in Your righteousness.”  Doesn’t that seem strange?  How can God’s guidance in justice and ethical behavior make any difference in an enemy’s assault?  Wouldn’t it be better to pray, “God, help me fight off these assailants” or “God, rescue me from this danger”?  What does straightening out my path have anything to do with protection from enemies?

Let’s see if we can answer those questions by paying closer attention to the conjunction “because” (lĕmaʿan).  First, we note that lĕmaʿan actually means “in order that.”  Of course, “in order that” is like “because” in English, but in Hebrew lĕmaʿan carries some additional implications.  The root is ʿānâ, signifying some kind of response.  “In all instances it is clear that ‘to answer’ the prayer is equivalent to looking with favor on the petition.”^[1]  With this root in mind, we discover that “the connotation ‘in order that’ occurs with some known and intended end in mind, hence, ‘to the intended response that.’”^[2]

Many passages record action (intended or accomplished) for God’s sake. Indeed. it is the Psalmists’ frequent plea that God will save, lead, deliver, quicken, etc., for his sake, i.e. to demonstrate before the creation, the wicked, or the righteous (or all three) the certainty of his covenant (Ps 25:11; 143:11; Jer 14:21).^[3]

Now we get it.  “Because” is just too weak.  What the psalmist really has in mind is an action taken by God that demonstrates God’s covenant commitment with him in order that his enemies see God’s hand.  If God is for him, who can stand against him?  Now the plea to be led according to God’s righteousness is not an ineffective, hopeful, spiritual deterrent to certain enemy assault, but rather a powerful, guaranteed endorsement of God’s favor.  “Let me follow Your ways” is the equivalent of saying, “You are my God and I know You will protect me when I am fully aligned with Your righteousness.”

Perhaps there’s a deeper lesson here.  Too often we think our line of defense comes from actions we must take.  We try to provide our own security, our own protection.  The psalmist reminds us that real protection is not found in human engineering.  It is found in a right relationship with God.  Once that is secure, God’s favor will accomplish the rest. Personally, I need this reminder.  I often find myself trying to engineer my own life to stay below the radar, fearing that if I am too righteous I will invite the accuser to ask God’s permission to test me.  Job’s story scares me.  I don’t want that kind of attention, so I think that if I just make small compromises, neither God nor the accuser will pay much attention to me.  I’ll get by.  Now the psalmist’s words hit me directly where it counts.  How could I imagine that staying small is any part of this defensive action?  God is in charge.  If I’m not aligned with His instructions, how could I think He won’t notice?  The psalmist tells me that God’s righteousness is the way—the only way—of standing before my enemies.  He doesn’t say that the enemies will suddenly evaporate.  He doesn’t say I won’t be confronted or assaulted.  He just says that I will enjoy God’s favor—and whatever comes from that is in God’s plan.  My issue isn’t protection.  It’s trust!

Topical Index: because, in order that, lĕmaʿan, protection, righteousness, Psalm 5:8

^[1] Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., Jr., & Waltke, B. K., eds. (1999). In Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 679). Moody Press.

^[2] Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., Jr., & Waltke, B. K., eds. (1999). In Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 680). Moody Press.

^[3] Ibid.