The Righteous One’s Cry for Righteous Retribution

David composed this psalm because of the words of Cush, the Benjamite. Whether this refers to Saul or one of his followers is uncertain. Charges had been levelled at David which were unfounded and slanderous. So it was with our Lord, in that they hated Him without a cause, and He was reviled and rejected by men. 

Such is David’s innocence that he is prepared to stand before God, and have Him to judge his righteousness and integrity. He was even prepared to accept dishonour and persecution if the accusation were true. If we have a conscience void of offence to God and man, we can, with a serene spirit, leave the judgment to God. Because no guile was found in the mouth of Christ, He could, without reserve, commit His Spirit unto God.

Psalm 7

   1  O Lord my God, in thee do I
         my confidence repose:
      Save and deliver me from all
         my persecuting foes;

   2  Lest that the enemy my soul
         should, like a lion, tear,
      In pieces rending it, while there
         is no deliverer.

   3  O Lord my God, if it be so
         that I committed this;
      If it be so that in my hands
         iniquity there is:

   4  If I rewarded ill to him
         that was at peace with me;
      (Yea, ev'n the man that without cause
         my foe was I did free;)

   5  Then let the foe pursue and take
         my soul, and my life thrust
      Down to the earth, and let him lay
         mine honor in the dust.

   6  Rise in thy wrath, Lord, raise thyself,
         for my foes raging be;
      And, to the judgment which thou hast
         commanded, wake for me.

   7  So shall th' assembly of thy folk
         about encompass thee:
      Thou, therefore, for their sakes, return
         unto thy place on high.

   8  The Lord he shall the people judge:
         my judge, Jehovah, be,
      After my righteousness, and mine
         integrity in me.

   9  O let the wicked's malice end;
         but stablish stedfastly
      The righteous: for the righteous God
         the hearts and reins doth try.

  10  In God, who saves th' upright in heart,
         is my defense and stay.
  11  God just men judgeth, God is wroth
         with ill men ev'ry day.

  12  If he do not return again,
         then he his sword will whet;
      His bow he hath already bent,
         and hath it ready set:

  13  He also hath for him prepared
         the instruments of death;
      Against the persecutors he
         his shafts ordained hath.

  14  Behold, he with iniquity
         doth travail, as in birth;
      A mischief he conceived hath,
         and falsehood shall bring forth.

  15  He made a pit and digged it deep,
         another there to take;
      But he is fall'n into the ditch
         which he himself did make.

  16  Upon his own head his mischief
         shall be returned home;
      His vi'lent dealing also down
         on his own pate shall come.

  17  According to his righteousness
         the Lord I'll magnify;
      And will sing praise unto the name
         of God that is most high.