Read Psalm 7
A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 Lord my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands—
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
or without cause have robbed my foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
6 Arise, Lord, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8 Let the Lord judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure—
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.
10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads.
17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
Go Deeper
In Psalm 7, we read a cry of anguish from David. He cries to the Lord for deliverance from his enemy. In his opening words, David shares how he takes refuge in the Lord. He is not seeking shelter in distractions or people, but he is going first to his Savior. Distractions don’t save us from pain, sorrow, hurt, shame, or guilt. David knew that the Lord had to be his source of deliverance and protection.
Not only did David turn to the Lord in the midst of his pain, but he also prayed. David wanted justice. He wanted God to make things right. He prayed with faith knowing that the Lord could act on his behalf. But, even if the Lord didn’t answer his prayer in the way David desires, David still sings praise and worship to the Lord with a thankful heart. David’s faith and his relationship with God were not defined by his circumstances. He chose instead to thank God and trust Him despite not knowing the outcome.
God may not be answering our prayers how we want them to be answered right now, but we still can choose to praise the Most High. He is above our circumstances, and He is greater than enemies we are fighting. We can dwell with Him, our Refuge, in the waiting. Yet, do not just sit there stagnant in the waiting; follow David’s example and pray for wisdom, correction, and guidance. God is waiting to reveal more of Himself to us, are you listening for what He is trying to say?
Questions
- What is the first thing you turn to for comfort other than God?
- What battles are you needing to bring before God today?
- What is God trying to teach you in this moment of waiting?
By the Way
While no one is quite sure exactly when David wrote this psalm, his words here are similar to his words in 1 Samuel 24.
5 responses to “Psalm 7”
What comfort to know that God can handle and welcomes our honest laments, questions, and wrestling. Contrary to our human condition that shifts/changes, God’s character never does; we can know him as one who saves, delivers, & vindicates, a refuge and a righteous judge. This is Yahweh. May we run to the him first.
Psalm 7 gives us a way to pray for those who oppose us.
Appeal to God who is a God who is equipped to use His unlimited creative power to prove His faithfulness to and for you and me.
Ask honest questions of what is my 100% of what or why the opposition? Search your heart.
Pray for all involved. God is the answer to all the questions and in His word are those answers. God help me see the answers to my questions!!
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God thank You for this day and these minutes of this day. God I pray for opposition. God show me how to be a blessing when that arises. Give me peace for knowing who You are. God I desire with my whole heart more of You and Your will in my life. If I am not right, God please show me with clarity beyond crystal clearness. Thank You for this day, these minutes and Your will for me in these minutes in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
or without cause have robbed my foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
Amazing that David would speak these words… And then he himself would have one of his own mighty men killed to cover up his affair with Bathsheba.
God have mercy… But for the grace of God, there go I.
14 Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
What an interesting description . . . to be “pregnant with evil”! As if evil is being nurtured and will inevitably come forth! Something to learn here for me!
We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.
Isn’t it awesome that we serve a just God that sees all, knows all and will take care of injustices for His purpose in due time.
May I always seek Him first in all things.