Praying the Psalms: Psalm 7
The faithful of the Lord are often unfairly criticized by the wicked. In fact, Jesus tells us to expect persecution. The persecution that may befall a Christian is not only physical but also verbal. Christians are often slandered, misunderstood, and attacked by the main stream secular culture. As orthodox Christianity becomes a minority culture in the West, it is easy to fall victim to our times and believe that we are the first to ever receive this sort of mistreatment and verbal attacks from our culture. This is certainly not the case. God's people have always been attacked, not only since Jesus' day but even since David's. The occasion of this Psalm is not fully known, but what we do know is that a man of Cush, a Bejaminite from the tribe of the former King Saul, slanders David. Psalm 7 is a psalm of lament that can help us pray to God when we are attacked, criticized unfairly, and persecuted for the sake of righteousness. It also addresses God’s justice towards the wicked and the need for repentance.
Commentary
v. 1-2 - David begins his prayer with a cry for refuge in God. He comes to God in desperate need. He is concerned and distressed from his enemies who are attacking him. He feels like a prey, where the mountainous lion of his enemies seek to rip his soul apart. David, at a place of desperation, seeks a place of protection in God. He looks to God alone to be his refuge.
v. 3-5 - In these next few verses David pleads with God on behalf of his innocence. David is not stating that he is sinless or perfect, but rather in this situation he is confronted with he believes he has done no wrong. He even ask God that if he has done something wrong such as repaying his friend with evil or plundering his enemy without cause, that he deserves to be pursued and overtaken by his enemies. Yet, David sees himself as blameless in this personal attack. The criticism he is facing from his critics are unfounded, unjust, and without cause.
We too must expect that we will face a belligerent and hostile culture often without cause. There are those who will have an inexplicable hatred towards Jesus’ followers. Like David, we may very well feel confronted by enemies who have no just accusation towards us, yet they bubble over in boiling hatred towards us.
v. 6-11 - Now that David has plead for his own righteousness in this situation he is facing, he appeals to God justice to urge him to do something about the situation he is facing. He asks God to arise in his anger to execute his fury on his enemies and to bring the swift hammer of justice upon them. God is a just God who is holy and blameless. David pleads with God on account of his own character, asking him to act in defense of his justice. Although justice is attribute of God we tend to minimize in our modern world, David took great joy in the justice of God, appealing to it in his desperate situation.
The Lord judges the people. There is no human being that escapes the judgement of God. No matter how much we may think we are in control of our own lives, all of us will one day stand before God to give an account of our lives. Our actions will be laid bear before us; things that are hidden and secret as well as things that are public and well known to all. God sees and knows everything about us including our actual motives and intentions of our heart. As David says God is the one "who test the minds and hearts" (7:9). This sort of vulnerability can be frightening or paralyzing to us. We tend to be experts at hiding our sin not only from others, but from ourselves. Yet, when we stand before God in his holiness and splendor the light of his righteousness will leave us naked and exposed.
Yet, David doesn't seem to be overwhelmed in anxiety over the judgement of God, rather he seems to be confident. In fact, he urges God to come and judge him according to his righteousness and integrity. Does this mean that David thinks of himself as able to save himself with his good deeds? No not at all. In v. 10 he tells us that God "saves the upright in heart". The Bible from Genesis to Revelation teaches us that we are justified by faith. We are saved by placing our faith and trust in Jesus as savior and Lord of our lives. The Gospel tells us that Jesus came to stand under the crushing weight of God's wrathful judgement of our sins while gifting us with the perfect righteousness of Jesus. This means that the Christian has great confidence in our salvation. The judgement we will one day face before God is not a frightening reality for the Christian. As we stand before God we stand knowing that it is only because of the imputed righteousness of Jesus that we will be saved. Yet, the righteousness of Jesus turns us into righteous people. As we live the Christian life we grow in the gifted righteousness of Jesus like a toddler trying to put on his daddy's shoes. We possess righteousness completely and totally, but God's grace sanctifies us and causes us to grow in righteousness. This is why David has such confidence. Those who are pure in heart and who turn from their sins and trust in God by faith will be saved from the coming judgement.
v. 12-16 - Yet, there are those who do not repent from sin. David makes it clear what comes to those who practice evil. "If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword" (7:12). The sword of God's wrath will come upon the evil. The bow of God is bent and pointed at his enemies, only waiting to release the arrow towards sinners. God is a warrior prepared for battle and his deadly weapons are ready. For those who refuse to repent and turn to Jesus, the full and terrifying wrath of God is ready to be unleashed in hell.
Those who practice evil always will have it returned to them. The wicked man is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. The wicked dig their own graves. As they sin they dig a hole only for it to be the cause of their own destruction. The mischief they cause returns to them. Sin has consequences, not only when it comes to eternity but also in this life. Sin doesn't stay secret. No matter how much we may try to cover our tracks our sins finds us. Sin is at its core destructive and those who zealously and unrepentantly live in sin will find themselves not only enslaved to it but destroyed by it.
v. 17 - David concludes his psalm giving thanks to God on behalf of his righteousness. The fact that God is a just God who punished sinners is a good thing. No matter what great evil we are victim too, we know that God will settle accounts. Justice is coming if not in this life, then before the judgement seat of God. As a result, even though we may be facing great persecution from evil people, we have a confident hope in the justice of God to administer righteousness accordingly. The fact that God is holy and just towards sinners is a catalyst for hope and worship.
Prayer Guide
- Who is attacking you unjustly and unfairly? Share with God your struggle.
- Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal any sin in you in this crises your facing.
- Call out to God for justice on the earth
- Praise God for his justice on the earth
- Thank God that he saves the upright in heart. Thank him for your savior Jesus.
- Pray for those who have yet to repent and turn to Jesus that God would save them from their sins.
Praying through Psalm 7-DEPENDENCE ON GOD
Praying through Psalm 7:1
Heavenly Father, thank You for the example that David set when he was pursued by his enemies; falsely accused and persecuted for righteousness' sake. Thank You that our hope is in You and that You are "the Lord our righteousness. Thank You for Your promise to vindicate all Your people who are unjustly accused, or have been hotly pursued by the enemy of our soul. Give me a heart that trusts You no matter what difficulties or dangers may cross my path and I pray that like David, my hope will be built on nothing less than the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect righteousness. Thank You that my salvation does not depend on what I have done but on Who Christ is and what He has done on my account. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.
“{Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.} O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:”
(Psalm 7:1)
Source: Verse of the day for Psalm 7:
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Psalm/7
Praying through Psalm 7:9
How we praise and thank You Father that the evil of wicked men will one day be judged and those that have been accused unjustly by people who are at enmity with God will one day be vindicated. Thank You that Christ's death on the cross conquered sin and death and that all who trust in Christ as Saviour will one day be exonerated. Help me to patiently endure in these increasingly dark days and may my life be pleasing to the Lord - in Whose name I pray, AMEN.
“Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.”
(Psalm 7:9)
Source: Verse of the day for Psalm 7:9
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Psalm/7
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