Psalm Category: Individual Lament

Key Word: Pregnant (Hara). This word means “to conceive,” “be with child,” or simply “pregnant.” What makes this word so interesting in Psalm 7 is its poignant use as a metaphor for the evolution of sin in the heart of the wicked. Sin begins with one being pregnant with evil, and later this gives birth to falsehood. James employs a similar metaphor in the New Testament; “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (Jas. 1:15).

Central Thought: Psalm 7 reminds us that God is just. This assures the believer that all things will ultimately be set right. It also reminds us of our duty to work for justice in all spheres.

Psalm 7

Psalm 7 is about justice. David has been wrongly accused and seeks the one court where true justice can be found.

The Cry for Help (vv. 1-2): The psalm commences with a desperate cry for help. David is under attack from fierce enemies who are metaphorically depicted as roaring lions. The title of this psalm indicates that David’s historical enemy was Cush, a Benjamite. While we are uncertain about the exact identity of Cush, we do know that David had many enemies in the tribe of Benjamin, including Saul, Shimei (2 Sam.16:5), and Sheba (20:1). In the face of this fierce attack, David turns to God for refuge, rescue, and deliverance.

David Presents His Case (vv. 3-5): In these verses David reveals the nature of the attack against him. He is experiencing the politics of personal destruction. The charges against him include theft (“robbed my foe”) and covenant breaking (“done evil to him who is at peace with me”). However, what is most painful for David is that he is falsely accused.

Responding to false accusations is very difficult. In the face of accusations, most people seek vengeance, file a lawsuit, or hold a press conference to clear their name. David chose a different path. He goes into the heavenly court and declares his innocence before God through a self-imprecatory oath. David knows that God is omnipotent. He therefore opens his heart before God, saying essentially, “If I have done these things, then let me be destroyed.”

Let David’s response to accusation be a pattern for us. When accused, we should examine ourselves, pray to God to examine us (Ps. 139:23), and only then pursue avenues of redress.

David’s Request for Relief (vv. 6-10): In verses 6-8, David summons God through militaristic and judicial language. “Rise up” and “awake” in verse 6 are indicative of military cries of the Israelites (Num. 10:35). Verses 6–8 employ judicial terms, such as “decree justice,” “rule them,” and “judge the peoples.” These verses create a portrait of a great heavenly courtroom scene. It is within God’s court that David makes his plea for relief: “O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure” (v. 9).

It is important to note that David moves beyond his personal situation by requesting universal justice. There is an eschatological component to his request, but it would be an error to neglect David’s desire for justice in the here and now. It is crucial for Christians to work for justice in this present age. We should bear the image of God by executing justice in our personal relationships, in our workplace, and in society.

David’s Warning to the Wicked (vv. 11-16): David’s knowledge of God as the ultimate judge of human affairs brings him great comfort. However, David recognizes that this does not bode well for the wicked. Therefore, he instructs the wicked regarding impending judgment. The imagery of the sharpened sword and bent bow indicate both God’s longsuffering and the inevitability of judgment. God is poised and ready to bring wrath, but there is still time to repent. In the proverb-like phrases of verses 14–16, David demonstrates that evil only begets falsehood and backfires on the evildoer.

David’s Response to the Eternal Judge (v. 17): David responds to God with thanksgiving and praise, even though there is no indication that he has been vindicated. However, it is clear that David is assured that the books ultimately will be balanced. Justice, after all, is one of the virtues of the promised Messiah. The book of Revelation makes this clear when it describes Jesus as “Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war” (Rev. 19:11).

Jesus is the ultimate judge of all men. The great comfort of the believer is that He is also the one who justifies (Rom. 3:26).

––Anthony T. Selvaggio