Psalm Chapter 7

Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.

Psalm 7:1 O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

"Save me from all them that persecute me." Were the words of David, which he sang to the Lord. Cush the Benjamite was someone unknown to us. He may have been a real threat to the physical being of David or he may have been a friend similar to Job's comforters who cast accusations in his face after his sin. Whoever it was, he persecuted David and made David feel like he needed deliverance.

The enemy of our souls can also do this to us. He can make us feel as if we are accursed of God and apart from God. He can cause us to be so remorseful of our mistakes and sins that we feel beyond the help of God. This may cause one to run from God rather that to God. David is running to God here and trusting in his salvation. David made mistakes and even sinned and I believe the Lord causes David to write these things down so that we too can find refuge when we mess up. God doesn't excuse sin but when someone genuinely repents, He wants to forgive probably more than we want forgiveness. God would rather save than destroy.

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

David mentions his soul being in confusion with no help. This is exactly how one feels if the enemy can convince him that he is beyond help from the Lord.

Psalm 7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

David then seeks the cause of his troubles. Is it because I have sinned, he is asking. How many of us ask ourselves, what did I do to deserve this? Was it my own faults that caused my trouble?

This is not wrong to do, for many of us seek to blame everyone but ourselves. We need to search our selves and find out if we caused our own trouble by our own stupidity or even sin. Our "feel good about yourself" society frowns on this but I think that soul searching is good if we confess our sins and turn from them. The harm comes only when we do not forgive ourselves or do not allow the Lord to change us and deliver us from sin. Some actually may hold onto their sin. Then the cause of our sin is still within us.

To confess and turn from sin causes refreshing and cleansing which then can cause a new beginning and a new foundation to build upon. It is much healthier to search our own hearts first before blaming someone else.

However, sometimes the enemy will just make us think that we have sinned or cause us to remember a sin that we have already been forgiven of that I mentioned before. In this case we must remember that we are no longer guilty but the sin is under the blood of Jesus. Only sin that has been forsaken is under His blood. If the desire to sin is still within us and we do not forsake it, we still are guilty before God. If we no longer want to sin, then it is a good sign our hearts are changed.

Psalm 7:4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:

David asks himself, "Lord have I done evil to someone without just cause?" "Is this why someone is doing this to me?" He must have been aware of the law of sowing and reaping and what goes around comes around. He knew that natural law says that if we are unkind, we will be treated unkindly. This is why when he felt that his enemies were persecuting him, he immediately wondered if he ignorantly was persecuting someone else.

Psalm 7:5 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 was willing to allow evil to befall himself if he was guilty of being cruel to another human being. He must have been sure at this point that he did no wrong to deserve the unjust things that were happening to him.

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.
7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

David insists that he has walked in integrity and he could not find where he did any wrong to justify his troubles. He boldly asks the Lord to be the judge. And surely judgment will come from the Lord upon all. When Saul was trying to take David's life, David was innocent and did no wrong to King Saul.

Psalm 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

Wickedness will surely come to an end and the righteous will abide forever. That is why the grace of God is so important. Because of the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ, we can be righteous and innocent before God no matter what we have done. His innocence counts on our behalf if we simply believe and receive it.

Psalm 7:10 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.
12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

God will one day judge and make all things right. Now is the time to get right with God by making sure all our sins our under the blood of Jesus Christ. Once we are forgiven through Jesus Christ then we are safe from all future judgment if we continue in Christ and turn not away from him.

Psalm 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

If a sinner does not repent and change, then the arrows of judgment await him. God prefers to save but judgment will come upon those who reject his plan of salvation and refuse to repent of sin.

Psalm 7:14 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.

We see here that there is a law of reaping what we sow. I believe the modern Road Runner cartoon is based upon this rule. If you notice that no matter what the coyote does to catch the roadrunner, it backfires and the coyote is the one who falls into his own trap. This is why we should treat others, as we want to be treated. If we find ourselves constantly being the victim of abuse, then let's search ourselves and see if we are doing any abusing ourselves.

I realize that there are innocent victims and God sees that also. He will recompense that upon the heads of those that victimize the innocent. Just because something bad happens to us, it doesn't necessarily mean that we are bad ourselves or we have done something to deserve it. If that was the case than why are so many innocent children hurt? No, that is not what I am saying. There are innocent victims.

Not in every case though are the victims innocent. Sometimes we do literally, "Ask for what we get." What we need is truth. Walk in truth, admit wrongdoing and cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the sight of God. Love our enemies and do good to them, which use and persecute us. That way when bad happens we know that it is not caused by our own stupidity and we can trust God to bring good from it.

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

Notice that the end of this psalm ends in praise. No matter what situation, praise the Lord. The worse thing we can do is allow situations to cause bitterness and hatred to arise within us. Instead we need to learn to praise God in the situations, not necessarily for the situations and trust God to bring forth deliverance from the evil in the situation. DC

Psalms 8

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