Psalm 7 Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.
A shiggaion is a song of meditation unto the LORD
Verse 1 O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
King David starts this Psalm out by boldly declaring that his trust is in the LORD. And then he asks for deliverance from those who are persecuting him.
Application: Where do we put our trust when life is difficult or devastating? Do we run to the doctor every time we are sick and then pray to God after the office visit? Do we ask for healing of the refrigerator when it quits working or do we just call the repair man? And when we do pray, are we really expecting answers?
Verse 2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
In verse one, David uses the plural pronoun ‘them’. More than one person is persecuting him. Yet here he uses the pronoun ‘he’. Why? Could it be that David recognizes the devil behind people’s actions? Usually people want to destroy the physical victim and they are not terribly interested in the victim’s mind, will or emotions. But the devils go after the soul as well, knowing that eventually the physical flesh of the victim will be negatively affected. The picture here is of a lion ripping with his teeth and claws. Very painful and very deadly. The demonic world is like a lion. Satan is referred to a lion in 1 Peter 5:8. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
Verses 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 is asking God to search his past and the motives of his actions and is ready to accept persecution and/or punishment if he has sinned. God knows the heart. We cannot hide anything from Him and David knows this. He believes that he is blameless, but just in case he has made a mistake or done something against the LORD that he is not aware of, he wants to accept judgement if judgement is warranted.
Application: Do we accept responsibility of our actions or do we blame something or someone and try to justify ourselves in our own minds? Until we accept responsibility, there can be no repentance and this will cause a rift between us and God. Truth is truth and it is a good thing to examine self periodically to make sure all is well between us and the LORD God Almighty.
Verse 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 is asking for the LORD’s intervention. The Hebrew word translated as “rage” is “ebrah” and it means outpouring, overflow, excess, fury, wrath, or arrogance. The enemies of David were coming at him with fury and arrogance. They wanted to destroy him. But David knew that the LORD would command judgement against his enemies and he was asking Him to do so now.
Application: Why is King David asking the LORD to wake up? Scripture states, “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalms 121:4 And it was God who kept physical Israel until the nation was destroyed and dispersed in 70 A.D. never to be gathered again by Him. And it is God who keeps His followers today and who is always watching over them. King David was a prophet as well as a king. This part of his Psalm is prophetic and is pointing to the LORD Jesus Christ who was laid in a tomb in the ground and who arose from that tomb. Was Jesus angry? No doubt He was angry at the devils and at the wicked people on the Earth at that time. And when He returns again, it will be to judge both the righteous and the wicked. So this was a prophetic utterance of David as well as the telling of his heart’s desire.
Verse 7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
As the LORD intervenes righteously for King David, His people will see and be encouraged and rely on the God of Israel and of David. So for the sake of the people as well as for his own sake, David is seeking God’s judgement and intervention against his enemies.
Application: When will God’s people gather around the LORD? At the end of time when the righteous will be judged for rewards and not for condemnation. All the righteous followers of the LORD will be rewarded for all that they did for His kingdom, and all that they did not do will be burnt up and not held against them as they are forgiven by the blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 So the Christian’s prayer should be “come LORD Jesus.”
Verse 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 knows that in the public court there may be injustice, but in God’s court there is only truth and righteousness. He states that the people will be judged. Scripture teaches that every individual that has lived or will live on this Earth will be held accountable for their words, thoughts and actions when they stand before the living God. All will be judged.
Verse 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.
This is a prayer every believer should be praying if we want peace. The world is full of wicked, devil filled people who care not who they persecute and injure by their devil inspired and fleshly desires for wealth and power and control.
Verse 10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
David is relying on the greatest defense attorney that has ever lived. Although Jesus had not come yet, the Holy Spirit of God was on King David and it was to Him that David looked for a defense. For us today, it is Jesus who paid the penalty for our sin on Calvary and who mediates for us in Heaven.
Verses 11-13 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. 13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
Application: We tend to think that judgment from God is only for the wicked. But here it is clearly showing that the believer is judged also. For what is he judged? Most likely for his goodness, mercy, grace, forgiveness, patience, love, caring, financial responsibility and all the other positive attributes that should be in a believer’s life if he is trying to be like Christ Jesus. Think of it like a dog show or a horse show where the judges are choosing the best example of the breed and not condemning those that are a little less perfect. We are judged for rewards and not condemnation. Rejoice in that fact!
The wicked are given every opportunity to repent and follow the LORD. If they do not turn from their sin and wickedness, they are judged for punishment and the death penalty. This death penalty is spiritual in that the person will be consigned to Hell forever, but it can also be physical death from this Earth. These verses use the picture of instruments of war which were used in King David’s time. Today we might use images of guns or knives or lethal injections. The results are the same. Repent and get right with the LORD or die both physically and spiritually. The choice is there and God will always give a person time to decide before taking action. Take comfort in that!
Verses 14-16 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.
The wicked work hard at being wicked. They enjoy it and deal with lies and deception. It is the job and delight of the wicked to oppress the righteous and to trap them in various ways if they can to steal their finances, their possessions, their relationships and their peace and joy. However, eventually the wicked will trip and fall into the same lies and wickedness they have created. Consider the crime families or the drug dealers that get killed doing business or taking their own poisonous products. How often have politicians been exposed for their evil behavior after years of deceiving the public and appearing to be the “good” man or woman? “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” Luke 12:2
Verse 17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
King David finishes this song with a happy ending in which he chooses to praise the LORD for who He is even if the difficulties in David’s life have not yet been resolved. His confidence is in the God of the Heavens and the Earth and so he knows the ending will be a good one to this story in his life. Do we have that much faith and trust in our God?