Psalm 7. The inscription indicates that this is a psalm of David. It was written in the style of “Shiggaion”, meaning “loud crying”. This psalm describes the agonizing cry of the remnant under extreme persecution. This historical setting is given in the title; “which he sang to Jehovah, concerning the words of Cush the Benjaminite”. This is a reference to the cursing of Shimei when David was fleeing from Absalom (2 Sam. 16:5-8), when he said to David; “Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.” This was an extremely humiliating experience for David, and it caused him to pour out his heart to the Lord, exposing his soul. Shimei falsely accused David of being guilty of the blood of the house of Saul. This caused David to consider his past, and ask the Lord to judge righteously between him and his accuser. Prophetically, this Psalm gives us the expressions of the remnant fleeing from Antichrist (Absalom being a type) and the apostate Jews with him. It is not confession of sin, but an appeal to the Lord’s justice.

 

 

vv.1-2 Cry for Deliverance. In this first section, the psalmist cries out to Jehovah for deliverance from the lionlike power of the attacks coming against him.

 

 

vv.3-5 Righteousness Acknowledged. In this second section, David owns his righteousness in the matter with which he is accused. Yet he also acknowledges that judgment would be fitting if he were guilty. Perhaps this is the beginnings of the work of repentance; a question is in their mind as to their own guiltiness. Sometimes God chastens us to cause us to reflect on our own walk, that we might keep short accounts with Him!

 

 

vv.6-7 Appeal to Justice. In the third section, David, a type of the Spirit of Christ in the remnant, appeals the righteousness and vengeance of God on his behalf (“awake for me”) and Jehovah’s judgment on the enemies’ behalf (“for their sakes return thou”).

 

 

vv.8-9 Calling for a Twofold Judgment. The faithful cry out to Jehovah, the “righteous God” to make a twofold judgment: (1) to vindicate the faithful according to their integrity, and (2) to bring the wicked to an end. These verses are what we could call an imprecatory prayer. Notice that universal judgment is called for; “minister judgment to the peoples”. The “peoples” is a general word that refers to the races of mankind. Also, the discernment of Jehovah is invoked; “thou that triest the hearts and reins”. The “hearts” are the affections, and the “reins” are the motives; i.e. that which controls people’s actions. When they speak of “my righteousness” and “mine integrity” we must remember that the Old Testament takes up the individual in the government of God. The Psalmist does refer to sinless perfection, but rather to the general character of honesty and integrity; a life free from hidden sin and hypocrisy. These word are spoken in the reality of the heart, not in the pride of the flesh.

 

  

vv.10-16 A digression on the righteous judgment of God. The final section is unique from the others. The rest of the Psalm is characteristically addressed to Jehovah, but these verses are addressed to Elohim. The psalmist is appealing to the strength and sovereignty of a Creator-God, put forth in the judgment of the wicked. The theme is this; “God is a righteous judge” (v.11). These verses expound the folly of the wicked in refusing to repent, and turn from their course; “if one turn not…”, etc. There are various “instruments of death” that are described in vv.12-15, to poetically illustrate how God will hunt them. Rather than be a “shield” (v.10) to them, God will sharpen His “sword”, bend His “bow”, light His “arrows”, etc. But further, in the government of God, the wicked will be the means of their own undoing; “digging a pit” for others only to fall into it themselves; “his mischief shall return upon his own head”. So it will be with the apostate nation of Israel; “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness” (Job 5:13).

 

 

v.17 Praise.The psalm concludes with praise to Jehovah “according to his righteousness”. It is praise in anticipation of deliverance. Notice that the name “Most High” or Elyon, which is a millennial name of God. This flows into the next Psalm which is a millennial psalm!