Psalm 7: Commit The Judgment Of Your Enemies To God

Psalm 7:1-2  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: 2  Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. 

The word "Shiggaion" is a song of wandering, a song of various parts woven together by the Spirit of God.

In this case, the heading provides a Biblical context for David's Psalm. 

David served King Saul faithfully, but Saul was often moved by a dark spirit and sought to kill David on many occasions.

David was brought into the palace to play his lyre when Saul was under the influence of a evil spirit, and this usually soothed the king.

At other times, Saul would hurl a javelin at David, trying to kill him

Eventually, David was forced to flee Jerusalem but Saul and his army hunted him down.

In this specific instance, David and his men were hiding from Saul in a cave, and Saul entered the cave but did not see David or his men.

While his loyal army urged David to kill Saul as he slept, David refused to lift up his hand against a king who was anointed by God.

The beginning of this Psalm find David expressing his trust in Jehovah and his confidence that He would deliver him from Saul.

King Saul was like a madman pursuing David, such that David believed the king would tear him into pieces if he caught David.

Psalm 7:3-5  O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; 4  If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) 5  Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah. 

David prayed to the LORD and asked that if he had done any of the evil things that Saul accused him of doing, then he would be content for God to render judgment upon his soul.

As far as David could see, he had no unconfessed sin in his life. 

He had not done any evil to those people with whom he lived peacefully with.

David asked God to examine his life and if he had done anything wrong to King Saul, to allow the king to tread down David's life into dust.

David could pray in this manner because he knew that he had been a faithful servant to king Saul and that he always did what was right and good.

Psalm 7:6  Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded. 

King David's supplication to God was that He would rise up and judge those wicked men who persecuted David without a reason to do so.

David felt on this occasion, that he was surrounded by enemies and he called on God to intervene and save him.

It expressed David's reliance upon the LORD to take care of judging his enemies and it reminds us of what Paul wrote to the church at Rome "Vengeance is mine, saith the LORD. I will repay" (See Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30).

Psalm 7:7  So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high. 

The idea here is that David pictures his own people compassing the altar of GOd.

These are the faithful ones who heard the lies and accusations made against David.

David prays that God will come and judge his enemies for their sakes, so that they might see God condemn the guilty ones and show David's innocence. 

David was not afraid to make this appeal to God because he knew of his innocence in all these matters and that God would always judge rightly.

1Sa 24:9  And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 10  Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed. 11  Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. 12  The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 13  As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 14  After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15  The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. 16  And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17  And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 18  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 

When King Saul pursued David into the wilderness to kill him and when he inadvertently chose to rest in the very cave where David and his men hid, David did not kill Saul.

Though some of his followers urged David to kill Saul, he refused to lift up his hand against a king anointed by God's prophet Samuel.

Instead, David took Saul's spear and cut a piece off his garment.

Later, Saul rose up and prepared to move on to hunt for David.

When they were on the opposite side of the canyon, David called out to King Saul, asking him why he listened to lying men defaming David's character.

David showed hos he could have killed Saul by holding up the piece of cloth he cut off Saul's garment.

David told Saul that he was innocent of all the lying accusations Saul heard about him and that Jehovah would judge between them.

Saul was pricked in his heart and wept, and declared that David was more righteous than he was, for he rewarded Saul with good but Saul attempted to bring evil upon David.

According to many commentators, this perilous situation was the basis for Psalm 7, and it helps us understand the nature of David's prayer to God.

Psalm 7:8-9  The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. 9  Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. 

Jehovah will execute justice and maintain truth among them. They shall not be as sheep without a shepherd.

God would judge all people in truth and righteousness and on this ground David pleads that He would now interpose and defend him from his enemies.

Thus, David prayed for Saul's wicked schemes to be undone by God and that the LORD was establish David's innocence.

Psalm 7:10-11  My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. 11  God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. 

The meaning here is that God was David's protector, and that he confessed all his troubles to Him.   

David knew that God will save all who are upright in heart because they repented of sin and put their trust in God as Savior.

Like David, they have the truth of grace in them and God's wisdom in the hidden part.

New birth makes one sincere in their affections, faith, hope, and love such that they act from real principles of truth and love, in the integrity of their souls.

Light and gladness are sown in the believer's heart, and they receive grace and glory.

No good thing is withheld from the sheep of God's pasture, 

We rejoice because we are saved by God from sin, Satan, the world, death, and hell, and every enemy, and have been given an everlasting salvation.

God is angry with the wicked every day because they constantly sin against Him and routinely transgress His holy moral law.

Thus, the wrath of God hangs over the head of each rebellious, unrepentant sinner (See Romans 1:18-32).

Psalm 7:12  If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. 13  He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. 14  Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15  He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16  His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. 

Wicked sinners are set in their sinful ways and God will at the moment of His choosing, pull out His sharp sword and load His bow with heaven's arrows aimed at judging the wicked.

Until judgment from God arrives, the wicked keep doing evil things and their sins will fall down upon their heads.

Psalm 7:17  I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high. 

The praiseworthiness of God is manifested in the treatment of the righteous and the wicked. 

He protects and upholds His children but He brings  a  justified judgment punishment upon the wicked. 

This Psalm of David clearly shows this truth about God's unchanging character.

Thus, David chose to acknowledge God by public acts of praise for His treatment of those who trust Him, and His sure judgment upon all who reject Him.

May these truths about God encourage us in our walk with Christ.

The wicked seem to be having their way right now.

They seem to be able to sin with impunity against God and seem to suffer no consequences.

Yet the wheels of God's judgment move slowly but the grind sinners down to a fine dust.

Bob