Do you know the African-American spiritual song “Give Me Jesus“? The earlier version of the text went around in the 1800s and what we know today goes:
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus
What does your morning routine look like? Do you start your day by giving thanks to the Lord, getting up, and opening your Bible that is on your bedside? Or do you probably go straight to check your phone to see if you are on time and if there are any important messages you need to read? Life can be so noisy that it becomes difficult to take some quiet time with the Lord.
David sure was a busy king who ruled over the Kingdom of Israel. He not only managed political affairs but also served as a judge for the nation. Despite his many responsibilities, David still found time to make music for the worship in the Tabernacle and organize the Levites’ service to the Lord. Do not forget that he was also a husband and father. Yet, David spent his morning time with the Lord.
Let’s take a look at what David did and learn how we can do it too!
Call the name of the LORD
Give ear to my words, O LORD;
Psalm 5:1-3
consider my groaning.
Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God, for to You do I pray.
O LORD, in the morning, You hear my voice;
in the morning, I prepare sacrifice for You and watch.
In the morning, David called upon the name of the LORD. The name of the LORD is considered the most holy name, and Jewish scribes must sanctify themselves before writing it. For the Jewish, a name carries one’s identity, reputation, and nature. By calling upon the name of the LORD, David acknowledged His holiness, authority, power, provision, and protection over all who call upon His name. David also proclaimed that the LORD is worthy of all praise.
David’s confession of God’s worthiness of praise is reflected in the sacrifice he prepares. The phrase “prepare sacrifice” can also mean “put in order.” So, what did David put in order? Did he simply organize his daily schedule during his quiet time in the morning? It is possible. However, if we look at Numbers 28:4-5, 7, it probably means something deeper. It is possible that the sacrifice David refers to was the daily offering in the Tabernacle.
The daily offerings were conducted twice a day, and each required an unblemished one-year-old lamb. Along with the lamb, a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter hin of pressed olive oil was also offered, along with a drink offering. The morning sacrifice was performed by the priests at the earliest dawn, meaning that all preparations had to be completed before sunrise. It’s possible that David, being a king, may have taken part in the preparation of the sacrifice outside the house of the Lord. However, because he was not a Levi, he could only assist in the preparations and, as what he wrote, watch.
It is likely that David’s morning worship was not just a matter of opening his Bible and having a quiet time in his room. Rather, it involved active physical worship, where not only his mind but also his soul and body were engaged and offered to the Lord. Does this help us to recommit ourselves in our morning meditation with the Lord?
As he watch…
For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with You.
The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies;
the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.But I, through the abundance of Your steadfast love,
Psalm 5:4-8
will enter Your house.
I will bow down toward Your holy temple
in the fear of You.
Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
make Your way straight before me.
By the law of Moses, every king in Israel was supposed to have the copy of the Book of the Law so that they could reign God’s people in the truth. Yet, not all kings obeyed. This has brought God’s wrath toward His people for they became unfaithful of the covenant of God. But it was not the same with David.
We know how David moved the ark of the covenant according to the Law of the LORD. David has seen how the LORD displayed His holiness through the destruction of those who do not love the LORD and obey His statutes.
How do we remember the word of the LORD and see it came alive in our lives? Do we spend our time reflecting on this during our quiet time?
As David watch the morning sacrifice being offered, he remembered the works of the LORD. As David watch, his body joined his heart and mind in worship. Not only as a man David stayed in front of the house of the LORD, but as a king. The daily offerings were not conducted on behalf of one person, but the whole nation. And as a king, David prayed, “Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me.”
The intercession
For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against You.But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
Psalm 5:9-12
let them ever sing for joy
and spread Your protection over them,
that those who love Your name may exult in You.
For You bless the righteous, O LORD;
You cover him with favor as with a shield.
As the morning sacrifice was held, outside the tent of the ark, David brought his nation in prayer. How can we also pray for our nation in our morning meditation?
Paul was a Pharisee who studied all the books in Taanakh, which is the Jewish bible that includes Tehillim (Psalms). In his letter to Timothy, found in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul encourages Timothy to pray for all people, including kings and authorities. This is similar to what David did when he watched the morning sacrifice being offered, as he made supplication, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving for all people, both those who rebelled and those who loved the LORD. David also prayed for himself as a king.
How can we include interceding for others in our morning prayers? Should we just pray for ourselves or also for others and our government?
It can be challenging to prepare your mind, soul, and body to worship the Lord in the morning, but doing so makes it a sacrifice and an offering to the Lord. Shouldn’t we, like David, meditate on God’s word, remember His mighty works, bow down in worship, and pray for others? Let us follow David’s example when we rise in the morning, we seek the LORD with all our being and offer our worship to Him.
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."
1 Timothy 2:1-2
Thank you for reading this article, I hope you feel blessed as I do! I would be glad to hear your story about God and all His goodness. I am currently getting back on my track to write weekly post (hopefully more in the future). Let’s connect and so I could hear your story too about the goodness of God!
Tiny Little Things 
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