Bible Commentaries
Psalms 7

Verses 1-17

Psalms 7

DAVID’S PRAISE TO THE LORD

(Concerning the slander of Cush the Benjaminite)

Verses 1-17:

Verses 1, 2 are a cry of David for deliverance from his enemies and an asylum in the Lord in this hour of extremity. For he vowed that his trust was in the Lord, Psalms 31:15. David was desperate in his cry for Divine deliverance lest his enemy, the devil, as a roaring lion, tear him asunder in pieces, while there was none to deliver, 1 Peter 5:8.

Verses 3-5 recount David’s protest and plea of personal innocence before the Lord of certain iniquities of which he had been accused is clear in the statement, "if I have done this," Joshua 22:22; 1 Samuel 20:8; 2 Samuel 16:7; Psalms 59:3. If there be or exist iniquity in my hands, or if he had rewarded evil to one at peace with Him, rather than delivered the one who was now turned enemy without a justifiable reason, 1 Samuel 24:7; 1 Samuel 26:9. He called for defeat from the enemy who persecuted his soul, asking God to cause his enemy to crush him under his foot upon the earth and lay his armor in the dust. He did not claim to be free from sin, 1 John 1:8; But he, like each child of God, could plead innocent of false charges brought against him, even as Job did, Job 31:16. Selah, meaning pause, digest this, that your soul may be nourished.

Verses 6, 7 are a plea of David for the Lord to arise, rise up in anger of judgment wrath, because of the rage of David’s enemies that he too considered to be enemies of God, Psalms 94:2. He desires that God awake from His delayed judgment against those who had disregarded his laws and commandments, Psalms 78:65; Isaiah 33:10. He yearns to see the Lord punish the wicked and reward the righteous openly, that he might be vindicated. He adds v. 7, that when and if God would so judge David’s enemies the congregation of the people (the Hebrew tribes) would encompass, encircle or draw near to honor the Lord. For "their sakes," the good of the covenant tribes, he therefore pled for the Lord to rise up in Jerusalem, in immediate judgment against His and David’s enemies.

Verses 8, 9 continue to assert that the Lord shall judge the people, Hebrew peoples, and He did and will again. Then David asks the Lord to judge him according to his righteousness and his integrity in the position of his anointed kingly administration over Israel, especially with respect to the charge laid against him by Saul, Psalms 66:18. He asks that the Lord cause the wickedness of the wicked to come to an end, right then. But pay-day for the wicked is not always of the Divine will for administration at the end of every sunset, see? Tho such is sure to come, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. He appeals for God to vindicate the righteous openly, at once, not always the will of the Lord, 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalms 17:3; Jeremiah 11:20; Revelation 2:23.

Verse 10 asserts, that David’s source of defense existed in God who continually saves, liberates those who are upright in heart, in attitude or disposition of soul; Psalms 5:12; Hebrews 13:5.

Verse 11 declares that God is a righteous judge, in nature and actions, is angry with the wicked every day, as surely as He takes pleasure in blessing the righteous every day. No moment passes that God is not ready to punish the guilty; His long suffering mercy and His love for the lost, delay His blow of judgment, as He longs more for their repentance and salvation, more than to judge them, 2 Peter 3:15.

Verses 12,13 further assert that if the wicked does not turn of his own will, to seek pardon for his wickedness, God whets His sword and bends His bow to make ready His instruments of just judgment, as instruments of death. He prepares ordained arrows of destruction against His obstinate, impenitent persecutors; See Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Samuel 31:3-4.

Verses 14, 15 declare that the wicked continually travails with iniquity, and has conceived iniquity and brought forth or delivered falsehood. The wicked had digged a pit and fallen into his own pit, as related Ezra 7:10; Job 4:8; Psalms 9:15; Psalms 10:2; Psalms 35:8; Psalms 94:23; Proverbs 5:22; Proverbs 26:27; Ecclesiastes 10:8.

Verses 16, 17 conclude that the- mischief of the wicked shall return to his own head and his violent dealings will fall upon his own pate, as also indicated, 1 Kings 2:32; Psalms 36:4; Psalms 36:12. David then vows that he will praise the Lord according to or in harmony with His righteousness. One reaps what he sows, in harmony with both Divine justice and righteousness, Galatians 6:7-8. Thus the Psalm that begins with weeping and lamenting ends with righteous praise. Wait on the Lord, in prayer and faith, Luke 18:1.