Psalms 7

Psalms 7:1-9

David, under the unjust affections of his enemies, ledges here his appeal with God. 1. He confidently in prayer applies to him, ver. 1, 2. 2. He maintains his innocence, ver. 3—5. 3. He prays to God to plead his cause against his persecutors, ver. 6—9. 4. He expresses his confidence in God that he would do it, ver. 10—16. 5. He promises in give God the glory of his deliverance, ver. 17. In this David was a type of Christ, who was himself, and still is in his members, thus injured, but will certainly be righted at last.

¶ 1 Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the 7 words of Cuth the Benjamin.

1. O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: I have me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. 2. ‘Letth he tear my foul like a lion, renting it in pieces,’ while there is none to deliver. 3. 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. 6. 7. 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 compels thee about: for their fakes 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. 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.

The person on whose account this psalm was penned, is called Cuth, a Benjamin; probably one of Saul’s courtiers, who maligned David to his matter. Many suppose Saul himself is meant under this name. Shiggaion is variously interpreted; from Eish. iii. 1. it should seem some musical instrument, for which this hymn was for. The general tenor of it expresses David’s recourse to God, under the reviling of his enemies, and the comfort and support thence derived.

1. The psalm opens with his professed dependence upon God. O Lord, my God, to whom I have a sure interest, and who art bound to me in the tenderest relation, and the sure bonds of an everlasting covenant, in thee do I put my trust, at all times, and under all difficulties. Note, They who thus make God their refuge, can never be moved.

2. He cries to God to save him from the malice of his persecutors; strong and cruel as a lion, they threatened to tear him in pieces; and he, without help in himself, or a friend to protect him. Note, When we are weak, then are we strong; the more all human dependence is removed, the more shall we be led to trust on God alone.

3. He appeals to God for the innocence there was in him, respecting the things laid to his charge. Far from designing Saul’s death, whom he lived at peace in his court, as he was accused, he had shown the greatest tenderness for his life, even after Saul’s exulted enmity had appeared, when God delivered him into his hand at the cure of Edgell, I Sam. xxiv. 4, and again, I Sam. xxvi. 12. evidences of his innocence, which even Saul acknowledged. But if guilt were yet found in him, he imprecates the severest vengeance from his cruellant enemies; content that God should give his: up into their hand, to suffer the loss of honour, fame, and even life itself. Note, (1.) It is an unpeakable comfort, under the world’s malignant affections, to be conscious of our own innocence. (2.) However wicked men may strive to blacken us, we have a God to appeal to, the protector of the injured; and he will make our righteousness. 7 K shortly

Shortly appear as the light, and our just dealings as the noon day.

4. Having lodged his appeal with God, he looks up to him as the righteous judge, and calls upon him to arise in anger against the furiousness of his enemies, and enable him to ascend the throne he had commanded him to fill, to the confusion of his adversaries. This request he urges, [1.] For the people’s sake, v. 7. who, when his sufferings should end, his enemies be defeated, and his throne established, would have the divine worship more encouraged among them under his government, and compels God’s altar with longs of praise for his deliverance. [2.] For the glory of his own righteousness, v. 8. when he should thus appear the condemner of the wicked, and the justifier of the upright.

5. He prays, Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, either by their conversion, and forsking their evil ways, or by the final coming of that blessed kingdom, where sin can never enter: but establish the just, or the righteous man, meaning himself, and every faithful soul, that in the righteousness of his divine survey stands justified before God. He begs that God would establish them in every divine and gracious disposition; that they may be strengthened with might in the inner man, and enabled to persevere unshaken: and in confidence of this he rests satisfied; for the righteous God recede the hearts and the reins, discovers his enemies through every veil of hypocrisy, and knoweth them that are his, though compelled with infirmity, and is convinced of their simplicity and godly sincerity before him. Now, it is a blessed thing when we can with comfort regard the righteous God as the teacher of hearts.

6. My defence is of God, which faveth the upright in heart. 11. God judgeseth 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 ordained his arrows against the persecutors. 14. Behold, he travailed with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth fathood. 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. 17. I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Psalms 7:10-17

The Pfalmist having committed his cause to God, concludes,

1. His salvation sure. My defence, says he, is of God, or, my shield is of God: he will cover me as lately as under a shield from the arrows of my enemies: which faveth the upright; they are sure of his protection; and God judgeseth the righteous, is a righteous judge, and therefore they who approve themselves before him, may be assured he will vindicate them from every excubation. Note, (1.) Out of God’s favour there is no safety; in it, no danger. (2.) Though our uprightness is not the cause of our salvation, yet it is an earnest oil in. (3.) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? it is God that justifies them.

2. His enemies destruction is certain, unless they repent: for God is angry with the wicked every day; he marks their continual provocations, and especially that radical enemy of heart, which is ever working within, to bring forth fruit unto death. If he turn not, he will whet his sword: God delighteth not in the death of a sinner; he waiteth to be gracious; however great his provocations, when he returns to God, God will turn from the fierceness of his wrath against him. How should such goodness lead us to repentance? But, if he persist, his ruin lieth at his own door; he hath rejected his own mercies, and must persist in his iniquity. God’s glittering sword is whetting for judgment; the arrow of death is fitting to the string; and all his instruments of vengeance ready: and shall we despise the long-suffering of our God? Sinner, tremble at thy aggravated guilt, and seize the moment which mercy prolongs, lest slightest patience provoke implacable vengeance. Let the persecutors of God’s people especially be warned; on them he will empty his quiver.

3. All the mischievous devices of the sinner are vain, and can end but in their own ruin: the conceptions of his devilish wisdom will prove abortive; into the pit he dug for others, himself will fall; and all the evil he meditated against the innocent result upon his own head, and overwhelm him with misery infupportable.

4. David concludes with his grateful tribute of praise due for theh righteous acts of the Lord. Every influence of such divine interposition shall minister to him constant matter for a long of thanksgiving to the Lord most high. Now, They who, like David, are kept ever trusting, will be, like him, ever praising.