Psalm 7

Introduction – This might be called the Psalm of the Slandered Saint.  But even more important, this is the psalm of a slandered saint who himself believed that he was innocent, righteous, and called upon the Lord God to judge him accordingly to see if it were not so.  Would we dare to do that?

Slander and False Reports (vv1-5) – We do not know who Cush is or the specifics of the words he used against David.  We do know that what Cush said was being used to persecute David, to tear him like a lion.  David vows before the Lord that if he ever had done such a thing, that God should cause his enemies to trample David’s life and honor to the ground.  But he cries out that he is innocent (v8).

Arise, O Lord – I am Innocent! (vv6-10) – David is confident of his integrity and righteousness – “Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me.” (v8).  This is comparative righteousness, not absolute, for David knows that he is a sinner by nature, and he knows he is guilty of sin – but not of the one being leveled at him. 

Arise, O Lord, in Your Anger! – David calls upon the Lord’s anger, not upon his own.  He is careful in calling upon the Lord to rise up and judge that he does so leaving vengeance to the Lord (Rom 12:19, see also Rom 12:14, 17, and 21).

Covenant Community Blessing (v7) – David calls upon God to bring down the wicked who are among the covenant community (Cush is a Benjamite) and he prays this “so the congregations of the peoples shall surround You;”  In other words, faithful discipline by the Lord of those in rebellion in the church draws the church closer to the throne of God.  David’s prayer is therefore not simply for his own vindication, but for the greater good of God’s people.

The Nature of God-the-Judge (vv11-13) – Some people think that little boys ought not play with toy guns and swords; and these people must have a difficult time with these verses.  God’s judgment upon the wicked has only been delayed because He is longsuffering in His greater purposes, but He is always angry at the wicked (v11).  This is how we are to understand the condition of those who will not turn their hearts and minds to the Lord.  He has you in His cross-hairs.  He is sharpening His sword and bending His bow.  He is imagining a new way of destroying His enemies (v13).  Because David believes this about God, it is much easier for him than for us to leave vengeance in God’s hands.

The Way of the Wicked (vv14-16) – Because of the nature of this omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent Judge, it follows that here is what happens with the wicked.  He conceives and brings forth iniquity; James 1:14-15 uses the same language.  And the death that is brought forth by the wicked turns out to be his own.

Confident Praise (v17) – The only appropriate response, when God grants us eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts to believe this about Him, is to praise Him and to learn to do so richly in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

Applications –

Do Not Judge Where You Would Be Condemned – “Judge not that you be not judged.” (Matt 7:1) is one of the most quoted verse by non-Christians and Christians alike.  But it must be understood in light of all that Jesus says there.  David is able to say, and even under oath, that he is righteous and they are wicked.  Jesus is able to turn to the Pharisees and call them white-washed tombs, full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness (Matt 23:27).  But all that said, one cannot make a judgment if one is not himself first spiritual (Gal 6:1).

Leave Room for the Wrath of God – One of the best tests of being spiritual is whether you are returning good for evil and waiting upon the Lord for His vengeance in His time – and most likely while pleading with the Lord that He would be merciful to them as He has been towards you.

Do Not Be Afraid to Be Right – There is a false-humility taught that says one may never know for sure that something is true, or that one is blameless in some situation.  David was willing to take a vow that he was clean.  We must confess our sins when there is sin – and we must stand confident before the Lord as Judge when there is no sin.  We must pray to be zealous, honest, objective and wise towards the true, the lovely, and the good and then rest assured even when there are respected brothers or scholars who differ.

When Surrounded by Enemies, It is Time to Sing – Song is prayer and prayer is song; this should be the mindset of the Christian.  When we are afraid, people should hear us singing.  When we are rejoicing, people should hear us singing.  When we are tempted to doubt, or when we are full of assurance, people should hear us singing.  When we are praying, people should hear us singing.  This is what the Word of Christ does, by grace through faith, and by the Spirit of God, when it dwells in you “richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col 3:16).

Dave Hatcher – April 10, 2005