Psalm 7

A Plea for Justice and Deliverance

Have you ever felt like the world is crashing in on you? I think we all have at one time or another. Maybe you are experiencing harassment at work or home. Maybe it’s financial instability that is closing in. Maybe you’re dealing with an illness either personally or in your family. Maybe it just feels like life is closing in on all sides and you don’t know what to do or where to turn. Just like the picture below – sometimes we feel like the defenseless rabbit while the eagle is ready to pounce! David felt this many times and wrote several Psalms asking God to rescue him. This is one such Psalm.

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.

This Psalm was written during the time David was running from Saul. There is much debate as to who exactly Cush is. He could be someone Saul sent to pursue David or it could even be Saul himself. Whoever he was, David was in some serious trouble because of him. Let’s take a quick look at the circumstances David finds himself in. The story begins in 1 Samuel 24. We find Saul has taken 3000 men to pursue David. Yes, that’s right – 3000! Under these circumstances, no one would have blamed David if he had taken matters into his own hands. He even had a couple opportunities. In 1 Samuel 24 we find that Saul actually goes into a cave where David and his men are hiding but David does not raise a hand against Saul. Then, David has another opportunity in 1 Samuel 26, but he still doesn’t kill him. Why? David tells us: “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down: either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. However, because of the Lord, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed.” Saul was God’s anointed king and David is going to allow God to take care of him. At the same time, in the midst of his current misery, David knows he can rely on God, to take care of him. So while David awaits God’s timing, he lays out his own petition – his plea – before the Lord.

Vs 1-2 Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me or they will tear me like a lion, ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.

David feels like a man who is being pursued by a lion who will rip him apart before anyone can rescue him. If you’ve ever been in the presence of a lion, you know a bit how David felt. Several years ago, I went to visit some friends in South Africa. While there, one of my friends and I went to visit a Lion/Rhino park. We drove in her very tiny Ford Fiesta through the park. We were having a fantastic day spotting all sorts of animals when we came upon some lions resting under a group of trees about 50 yards from us. We stopped the car to take our pictures when one of the female lions strolled in front of our car. We then heard (and felt) a low rumbling as the male lion took his position in the back of our car. We started to go forward, but the female lion moved quickly to stop us. We were being pursued. For those few moments, we felt the sheer terror of what it is like to be hunted by lions. David was feeling that same relentless pursuit. His enemies were bearing down on him (all 3000 of them), and they were ready to pounce. But, David knows where to turn. He knows God is the only One who can rescue him from this threat. He is seeking the refuge that God offers.

Vs 3-5 Yahweh my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice on my hands, if I have done harm to one at peace with me or have plundered my adversary without cause, may an enemy pursue and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah

Here David does a brief self check. Could he be the problem? Did he do something to deserve what was going on? David is willing to accept the consequences of anything he may have done wrong and he gives God the opportunity to show him anything in his life that needs to change. This shows David’s confidence. He knows he is not perfect, but he doesn’t believe he is guilty of the crimes he is being charged with either. He is so confident, he lays it all on the line before the Lord to judge between him and his adversaries. He knows God is the perfect judge and will do what is right. This is a reminder to us. Sometimes, we should do a self check to make sure we are not a part of the problem. What can we change in our life? This does not mean we are a part of the problem, it just means we are willing to allow God to work in our lives.

Vs 6-7 Rise up, Lord, in Your anger; lift Yourself up against the fury of my adversaries; awake for me; You have ordained a judgment. Let the assembly of peoples gather around You; take Your seat on high over it.

Three times David calls on God to take action. Rise Up — Lift Yourself Up — Awake. This is no timid request of if it be Your will. This is a deliberate call to do what David knows is the will of God. In 1 Samuel 16 Saul has been rejected as king and David has been anointed. David knows God has chosen him to be king, so he boldly comes before God with this request. He says, You have ordained a judgment. God has judged Saul and David knows it. In Psalm 23, David says God leads him on the right paths for the sake of His Name. And, for the sake of His Name, God will always do what is right. David also knows that all the eyes of the people are on this situation. They are waiting to see what God was going to do. David’s desire is that God be lifted up – that His Name would be exalted before the people.

Vs 8-10 The Lord judges the peoples; vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The One who examines the thoughts and emotions is a righteous God. My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

I believe we often forget that God is a judge. We, rightfully, preach about Gods great love and grace, but we neglect the fact that He is absolutely righteous and just and cannot abide sin. David understands this and asks God to end the evil of the wicked. Just this past month we have witnessed great evil around the world. From the shootings in Uvalde TX to the atrocities happening in the Ukraine, we see evil is all around us. We must learn to pray as David prayed so long ago – Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous.

The Hebrew word for righteous is tsedeq. I want to take a moment to explore what this Hebrew word means. First, tsedeq is the foundation of the throne of God. Psalm 89:14-15 says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; faithful love and truth go before You. Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Yahweh, they walk in the light of Your presence.” A foundation is something we build on. So, if we understand that God’s righteousness is the foundation of His throne, we must understand that righteousness is the foundation of everything God does. Second, since righteousness is the foundation, then we must seek after the righteousness of God with all our heart. Deuteronomy 16:20 says tsedeq, tsedeq radaph so that you will live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you. The word radaph means to pursue or to chase. The word tsedeq is written twice for emphasis so we need to read this as the Israelites would – Righteousness righteousness pursue and chase after… It is all about pursuing the righteousness of God! Third, just because we pursue righteousness, does not mean our righteousness does anything. What I mean is, God is not motivated by how righteous I am – thankfully! – He is not motivated to avenge our righteousness, He is motivated to eliminate wickedness because of His righteousness. Deuteronomy 9:4-6 says, “When the Lord your God drives them out before you, do not say to yourself, ‘The Lord brought me in to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.’ Instead, the Lord will drive out these nations before you because of their wickedness. You are not going to take possession of their land because of your righteousness or your integrity. Instead, the Lord your God will drive out these nations before you because of their wickedness, in order to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.” It is not about us – it is all about God.

Vs 11-13 God is a righteous judge and a God who shows His wrath every day. If anyone does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has strung His bow and made it ready. He has prepared His deadly weapons; He tips His arrows with fire.

David says it again – God is a righteous judge and, in the face of wickedness, He will show His wrath. If they will not repent, then He is at the ready to avenge His Righteous Name. Oh, if only Saul had truly repented, then God, in His mercy, would have forgiven him. But Saul’s heart did not repent so God’s wrath was upon him. God has also shown us what happens when a nation does repent. You can read the book of Jonah and see what happens to Nineveh. In short, Jonah was to go to Nineveh and tell them unless they repented they would be destroyed. They did repent and God relented, much to Jonah’s chagrin. God then taught Jonah a lesson in mercy and grace. We must remember, God is just and righteous. It is the foundation of His throne. Everything He does is built upon His righteousness. This is why Jesus said, “go and sin no more”. We just finished a study of Romans. In that book Paul reminds us, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Do you really think anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth but are obeying unrighteousness,” Romans 2:2-8.

Vs 14-16 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil, conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit. He dug a pit and hollowed it out but fell into the hole he had made. His trouble comes back on his own head, and his violence falls on the top of his head.

What a picture David has painted here. The wicked one is pregnant with evil and will show him/herself because, what’s in the heart will come out in the deeds. Wickedness can even look respectful – just look at the Pharisees in Jesus’ day – but it will come out. Eventually, the hole they dig to capture the righteous will be the hole they fall into. Haman found this out in a very real way in the book of Esther. He built a gallows to hang Mordecai on, but ended up being hung on it himself. The enemies of Daniel also found this out. They were the ones who ended up in the lion’s den to be eaten! Those who practice evil may have the upper hand for a moment, but in the end, they will experience the true wrath of God. We cannot predict the timing of God’s wrath – and at times don’t understand why it takes “so long”. But be assured – God’s timing is perfect – he is never late and he is never early. He is always right on time.

Vs 17 I will thank the Lord for His righteousness; I will sing about the name of Yahweh the Most High.

If you’ve been reading any of my blogs, you will know one of my favorite artists is TobyMac. I believe he is a singing/rapping prophet – speaking truth through his songs. One such song that reflects this Psalm is entitled Help Is On The Way. The first verse and chorus go like this: I heard your heart. I see your pain. Out in the dark. Out in the rain. Feel so alone. Feel so afraid. I heard you pray in Jesus’ name. It may be midnight or midday. It’s never early, never late. He gon’ stand by what He claim. I’ve lived enough life to say; Help is on the way (roundin’ the corner) Help is on the way (comin’ for ya) Help is on the way I’ve lived enough life to say Help is on the way. If you find yourself out in the dark, alone and afraid, help is on the way. Jesus will stand by what He claims – for the sake of His Righteous Name. In the meantime, “God is your refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1