Read
(Written by David. He sang this to the Lord because of Cush from the tribe of Benjamin.)
The Lord Always
1You, Lord God,
are my protector.
Rescue me and keep me safe
from all who chase me.
2Or else they will rip me apart
like lions attacking a victim,
and no one will save me.
3I am innocent, Lord God!
4I have not betrayed a friend
or had pity on an enemy
who attacks for no reason.
5If I have done any of this,
then let my enemies
chase and capture me.
Let them trample me to death
and leave me in the dirt.
6Get angry, Lord God!
Do something!
Attack my furious enemies.
See that justice is done.
7Make the nations come to you,
as you sit on your throne
above them all.
8Our Lord, judge the nations!
Judge me and show that I
am honest and innocent.
9 You know every heart and mind,
and you always do right.
Now make violent people stop,
but protect all of us
who obey you.
10You, God, are my shield,
the protector of everyone
whose heart is right.
11You see that justice is done,
and each day
you take revenge.
12Whenever your enemies refuse
to change their ways,
you sharpen your sword
and string your bow.
13Your deadly arrows are ready
with flaming tips.
14An evil person is like a woman
about to give birth
to a hateful, deceitful,
and rebellious child.
15 Such people dig a deep hole,
then fall in it themselves.
16The trouble they cause
comes back on them,
and their heads are crushed
by their own evil deeds.
17I will praise you, Lord!
You always do right.
I will sing about you,
the Lord Most High.
Reflect
I recently purchased a copy of the NIV God’s Justice: The Holy Bible. On the back cover it says, “God’s justice – his plan for ‘setting things right’ – is a foundational principle of the Bible … the backbone of Scripture.”
Flipping through God’s Justice one quickly realizes from the study notes on every page that the theme of justice is woven throughout the Story. Obviously, some passages speak more pertinently to the issues of justice than others. Psalm 7 is one of those passages.
Learning to do what’s right, defending the oppressed, and pursuing justice, are matters close to David’s heart. His shiggaion (rambling poem or loud cry) begins with personal justification (v.1-5), requests judgment (v.6-16) and concludes with joy (v.17).
Have you ever been falsely accused of deceitful or dishonest dealings? A Benjamite named Cush accused David of betraying a friend and ripping off an enemy (v.4). But it’s obviously not true. David assures God that his conscience is clear (v.3-5) and underlines it with an emphatic Selah as if to say, “So what do you think about that?!”
Having justified himself, David wants God to exercise judgment. He asks Him to judge the sinners and the saints (v.6-8). To defend this request for justice he appeals to how God’s judgment works in principle (v.9-10) and practice (v.11-13). He concludes by explaining how sin is a process that eventually boomerangs on the sinner (v.14-16).
In a world beset by prejudice, inequality, unfairness, discrimination, exploitation, corruption and the violation of rights, it’s sometimes hard to believe that justice can prevail. But it will. While circumstances may be dire, David uses the term Jehovah Elyon (v.17), the God of ‘covenant’ and ‘control’, to close out the psalm with an emphatic declaration that God is still on the throne – still sovereign over the affairs of individuals and nations.
Respond
Lord, help us see that justice is done, let mercy be our first concern, and may we humbly obey you (cf. Micah 6:8). Amen.
Lawson Murray
Lawson is the President of Scripture Union Canada and the Managing Editor of theStory™. Lawson takes every opportunity to enthusiastically invite people of all ages to connect with Jesus and His Story. He says, “We have been given the greatest story ever - God's Story! Should we not, with all our might and energy immerse ourselves in it? I believe we should. For without the Story we really have nothing to offer the millions who hunger and thirst for something more. But, with God’s Story we have what everyone needs!” Publications: Bible Engagement Blog; Children’s Ministry Basics Blog, Bible Engagement Basics; Bible Beginners