Psalms Chapter 7

Psalms Chapter 7

Psalms 7:1-2 says, “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: Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.” King David had many enemies both before and after He became king. Before he was king there was King Saul who wanted to kill him because he knew the Lord had anointed David to be king. The reason that God chose David to become King is because just as verse one says, he put his trust in the LORD. You just might be surprised what opportunities come your way if you only trust in Jesus. Of course, with opportunity comes responsibility and greater opposition from enemies. You may never become a king of a country in the sense that David did, but if you trust in Jesus, you are a king in another sense.

Revelation 1:5-6, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Jesus is the King of Kings and the supreme authority both in this life and the next. And He is delegating out both opportunity and responsibility to others. When you are given such a position by being washed from your sins in the blood of Jesus, then you are going to find yourself in the same situation as David. You will have lots of enemies. David said he was persecuted and his enemy sought to tear his soul like a lion. The lion is the king of the jungle. Among animals it is a powerful aggressive predator. The enemies which come after you will be like lions. The devil is like a lion. First Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Of course, Jesus himself is also compared to a lion. Revelation 5:5 says, “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Another interesting verse is Psalms 34:10, “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” In other words, the strength of men will fail. Your enemy may be stronger than you. But Jesus is stronger than your enemy. Trust in Him lest your soul be torn by the lions of this world.

Psalms 7:3-5, “O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) 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.” One of the greatest problems with this world is the injustice which prevails. There used to be a motto in America which said, “And justice for all.” Of course, for there to be justice there must be truth, and for there to be truth there must be hearts that trust in Jesus. King David, like most people in positions of political power, had a great responsibility to make sure that he was just and that he did not use power and vengeance in the wrong way. The more that those who rule in the governments of this world stray from the teachings of the Bible, the less they will be like King David, the less they will seek the Lord in prayer and say as David to paraphrase him, “Dear Jesus do not let me bring vengeance upon those who are innocent of any crime.”

Even though David had enemies, blatant enemies, those that wanted to kill him and destroy him, his concern was treating everyone justly and doing justice. Of course, there will never be perfect justice in this world until Christ returns. But if you see your society falling farther away from what is just, it is because they have turned away from Christ. Jeremiah 23:5-6, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name where he shall be called, “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” There is justice for all, it is found in Jesus. If you are not a person of power, you can be through prayer, and you can pray for those in power that they pray this same prayer which King David prayed. It may be that if only more Christians prayed for the leaders of their country and prayed that they would do as King David; there would be more justice in the land.

One of the reasons the forces of evil seek to promote injustice is because the devil knows that when such calamities befall people, it can often destroy them or their faith or discourage them from wanting to trust in Jesus or serve Him. The same fire that melts the wax hardens the clay. The devil is a lion, and he is always hoping the fire will harden the clay. Pray as King David did that you do not reward evil for good. Do not reward evil unto him that is at peace with you. Do not deliver him without cause that is your enemy. And pray that the leaders of this world do the same. Injustice has helped to destroy many a life. But there is justice in Jesus. The reason why injustice happens is because all men are sinners and people do wrong. Often when people do others wrong, those who have been wronged do not forgive the wrong-doers, even when they asked for forgiveness. Unfortunately the victimized seek vengeance instead. You should always forgive. It is not easy to do, but if you do, things will ultimately work out better for you.

Most people will not be forgiving because they have to know the forgiveness of Jesus to truly be able to forgive. Don’t be vengeful like the world and deliver those that are at peace with you. Be forgiving just as Jesus offers forgiveness. Second Corinthians 2:7-11 helps explain this principle best. It says, “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: For if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” How many times should you forgive someone? As many times as God does, which is a limitless amount. The closest relationship among humans is the marriage bond. Sometimes the hardest thing for people to forgive is sexual impurity. But if a person is repentant, even this can be forgiven. That is exactly what this passage in Second Corinthians is talking about. The world teaches revenge. But revenge will only destroy people. If God did not forgive us when we asked Him but rejected our repentance, what would happen to us? The same is true between men. There must be forgiveness lest Satan should get an advantage of us. Do not deliver up those that are at peace with you, no matter what they have done to hurt you.

The next several verses in Psalms continue to talk about this principle in more detail. Psalms 7:6-9, “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. So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high. The lord shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.” God does get angry. And His greatest anger is directed towards those who are the enemies of His children. When you enter into a relationship with Christ through His grace, you become very special to God. You become a joint-heir with Christ and a child of the heavenly Father. Of course, those who render evil unto God and seek to tear a believer’s soul like a lion will find God angry at them. These verses say, “The Lord shall judge the people.” “It is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The destiny of this world and everyone in it is to stand before the great white throne of the Holiness of God and to be judged. Governments will attempt to bring justice and judgment in a society, but in its true, perfect, and eternal form it will only happen before the throne of Jesus Christ.

Verse 6 says, “Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself.” Often when we think of anger and love, we think of them as things that do not go together. The attributes of God however include both his love and his anger and they go together perfectly. The phrase “to lift up thyself” speaks of judgment. It is translated elsewhere in the Old Testament to mean “bare.” Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:12 says, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” The anger of God and the love of God are both culminated in the person of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross. This phrase “lift up thyself” is also found in the New Testament. It is used in Matthew 20:19 which says, “And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.” God is angry at the evil people of this world. And He has lifted himself up in His anger. He did so by putting his only begotten son Jesus Christ on the cross to bare the sins of the world. When a person turns away from Jesus, how much more then is that person in danger of facing the anger of God? God must judge sin. God is holy. If you reject Christ, then the only choice left is the anger of God.

Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” This phrase “to lift up” is also translated, “high and lofty.” God is the High and lofty one who inhabits eternity. He has a right to be angry. And He has a right to love. Take Jesus or take judgment. These are the only two choices available for everyone.

Psalms 7:9-11, “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” The world is filled with evil. But God is good. We cannot blame God for the wrong things that people do. Some people want to argue and say, “didn’t God create evil, since God is all powerful and He created everything?” The best answer to this argument is just as it says here in Psalms, “Let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end.” Evil and wickedness are the result of those using their free will to choose to do that which is contrary to the will of God. You cannot blame God for the wrong that people chose to do. And ultimately you cannot even blame others no matter how much they influence you. Genesis 2:17 says, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” God did not create man with a sin nature. God created man with the ability to choose, and Adam chose to sin. Of course, His first response was to blame it on his wife. Men are always blaming others for evil and even blaming God. God is not evil. God is good, God is longsuffering, God is merciful, God is forgiving, and of course, God judges sin. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end.

Psalms 7:10 says that “my defense is of God”. The word defense can also be translated “shield.” There is no better basic defense than a shield. God is the shield of salvation, the shield of favor, the shield of faith for those who trust in him. Do not fret thyself because of evil doers the Bible says. The wickedness of the wicked will come to an end. My defense is of God. It is never a good situation when those who have authority and power over you are angry. If the government which you live under gets angry at you, what happens? God is holy and God gets angry. In fact there is not a moment in time that passes in which He is not angry with the wicked. This word “anger” carries with it the idea of “to abhor, to curse, and to defy.” Sometimes it seems like the evil of this world runs amok freely and unopposed.

Revelation 6:9-10 says, “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” The evil forces of this world and the evil people of this world will cause others great suffering and great destruction. The heart will always cry out to God, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” Just remember that God is angry with the wicked every day. God has lifted up himself already when He lifted up Jesus on the cross. Be patient. When the last opportunities for your enemies to trust in Jesus and to repent of their sins run out, then God will bring judgment on them and return unto them. That is, He will reward unto them their evil. God is angry with the wicked every day, and therefore we know that the wickedness of the wicked will come to an end.

God is the judge and God tries the hearts. There are two primary works which God is currently doing in the world: bringing sinners to Jesus and then making them become like a tree planted by the rivers of water. This is what it means to try the heart. Romans 8:28 says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Job 23:10 says, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:13 says, “But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.”God doesn’t make anyone accept the free gift of salvation. It’s a free gift. But those that take it, He will make them into the image of His Son. He will try the righteous and He will judge the wicked. And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.

Psalms 7:12-16 says, “If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit and digged it and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.” These verses and others like these in the Bible are very important verses. Please heed their warning. They begin by saying, “if he turn not.” If the wicked turn not. If the wicked do not repent, is what this is speaking of. God is angry with the wicked every day. If they do not repent, God is going to judge them. It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow. But it is going to happen because God is Holy. This is the warning. The Bible says today is the day of salvation. These verses also speak of the law of consequence. Why did God create the physical world the way He did? To teach us spiritual truths, of course. Consider the law of gravity. What goes up must come down. Bounce a ball against a wall and it will bounce back at you. Galations 6:7-8 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” There are two kinds of consequences, temporary and eternal. The grace of God through Jesus Christ provides salvation from the eternal consequences of sin which include eternal death and separation from God in the lake of fire. But there are temporary consequences that sometimes, and more oft than not, will come down upon you when you do wrong, simply because of the way God has created this world to work. What would happen in this world if there were not consequences for doing wrong? People would do even more evil things than they already do. “If he turn not,” these verses say. God has mercy. God has forgiveness and He is going to give it out. But to receive is dependant upon turning from your sins and turning to Jesus. Otherwise there will be judgment for sin because God is angry with the wicked everyday. To suffer consequences in this life from sin does not mean God is judging you and punishing you. Consequence and punishment are not the same. Of course, in a sense bad consequences are a punishment for bad choices. If you sow of the flesh, you will reap corruption. That is the way this world works: just like the law of gravity. So long as this physical world exists, such will be the law of consequence: the law of cause and effect. However, there is always the opportunity to escape the eternal consequences. God is ready to judge sin. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus.

Let us pray that “we deliver not them” that are at peace with us because God judgeth the righteous. God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, He will whet His sword.

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