We begin this week with Psalm 7

In this Psalm David is again suffering – but this time it is not because of something he has done wrong. In this Psalm he is being persecuted because of the wickedness of others.

The inscription: This is a song of meditation. David is pondering, examining himself, reviewing things in a careful manner. David composed this song in order to lift up his thoughts to the L-rd. Most rabbinical commentators think that this psalm was written when King Saul began to persecute David for no reason. Others see this Benjamite as someone else who was against David for no seemingly good reason.

v1: David begins by affirming his faith. He chooses to put his trust (find his refuge in) G-d alone. He is not looking to other sources or individuals to help him. David realizes that only G-d truly is the solution to his problem -he is in a situation that he is unable to get himself out of and needs divine intervention.

v2: This is what David feels is going to happen to him if G-d doesn’t step in to deliver him – he will come to a complete and utter end. David’s terminology shows the seriousness of his situation – this is truly a matter of life and death.

v3-4: ‘…if I have done this’: David is searching his heart and declaring here that he is innocent – he hasn’t done the things that he has apparently been accused of. He was not disloyal in regard to Saul – in fact his motto was ‘I will not rise up against the L-rd’s anointed.’ (1Sam 24:6-7, 1Sam 26:9-11)

v5: David is telling G-d that if he is in any way guilty of these things he is willing to bear the consequences -even if those consequences involve his enemies destroying his life. What we can learn from this is this: sometimes in our lives we may have done the right thing, but people will wrongly come against us and blame us for the wrongs -even though we are innocent of them. In these circumstances it is a good reminder to us to search our hearts, and also a good time to ask G-d to search our hearts too (Psalm 139:23-24)

v6: This verse has two very different ways that it can be translated. Some people say that it should be translated G-d’s anger which is paralleled to G-d’s wrath – David’s enemies being the recipients of this wrath (In the same way that ‘Arise’ and ‘Lift up’ are //).

· Other translators say that it should be translated the way it is here – that G-d’s anger is going to be against the wrathful/fearless behaviour that David’s enemies display.

· ‘Awake for me the judgement…” David is most likely talking here about the fact that G-d makes promises in His Word and David is wanting Him to move in this situation to bring about a verdict. G-d has promised (commanded) blessing for those who keep His Word and curses for those who fail to. Both are judgements – the one for reward and the other for condemnation.

v7: ‘Peoples’ is a word that refers to the nations.

· ‘shall surround You’ – this is not something positive that is happening (See Ps 22:12-13 -they are in opposition to Messiah – Yeshua. Yeshua did everything right, like David claims he has done in this Psalm, but despite that people were against Him). These peoples/groups of nations are in opposition to G-d.

v8: G-d is going to go against (judge) the nations who reject Him (James 2:13) and who stand against His purposes. There are two purposes in judgement – condemnation and vindication. So often we only focus on the former.

· For people who believe in G-d (believers) judgement is vindication – judgement is made in our favour, clearing us of blame or suspicion. ‘Judge me’ – David is seeking this judgment that will be his vindication.

v9: “Oh” is a word of supplication, a word of request – like ‘please’.

· This is what is going to happen in the last days at the establishment of G-d’s Kingdom – wickedness is going to come to an end (its end is going to be eternal punishment), and the saints will be established as they rule and reign with Messiah (Dan 7:18).

· ‘Hearts’- according to Judaism every organ has a physical role to play in the human body. However, they also believe that every organ also has a role to play in a spiritual sense. A heart pumps blood physically throughout the body – giving life (through oxygen) and receiving depleted blood back in order to reoxygenate it etc. Spiritually the heart is seen as the seat of our thoughts – Prov 23:7. It is in the heart that thoughts can be cleansed etc

· The word translated ‘minds’ here is the same word that can be translated ‘kidney’ (see biblehub.com). Kidneys also have a spiritual aspect. They are associated with the most inner stirrings of emotional life.

v10: The word translated ‘defence’ is the word for shield. Not only is G-d our shield (protector and defender) but He is also the Saviour of those who are upright in their heart (thoughts). Some of the commentators say that this one of David’s spiritual highs. He’s close to G-d, he’s obeying G-d, he’s committed to the purposes of G-d. They say that it is because of this that his enemies have turned so passionately against him and are attacking him.

v11: This is another place where the translation can go one of two ways – in the Hebrew it is unclear as to whether this is speaking of G-d as a righteous judge, or if it is speaking of Him as a judge of the righteous ones.

· We have spoken often about the wrath of G-d as an end time event. This verse, however, brings to our attention that He is also a G-d of present wrath – ‘every day’. Day in and day out we can glimpse or perceive elements of G-d’s judgement round about us. All of this (wrath/judgement) is to gather people’s attention and to cause them to understand what G-d is about. For G-d to show us these things, on a regular basis, is a form of mercy – it allows people to repent while they have time – while they are still alive.

v12: This verse is speaking about the assurance that G-d’s judgment, His wrath, will come and it will not be done away with.

v13: The implication is that there is going to be judgmental activity from G-d – to justify His faithful ones and deliver them from the enemy.

v14: The reason G-d brings judgement is because of this: people delighting in wickedness.

‘Travailing’ is a term used for birthing. These people conceive (trouble) and give life (bring forth) to wickedness – lies (they are in opposition to the truth and delight to deceive others – antichrist behaviour)

v15: The very activity, the work, that they have conceived, the falsehood etc, is going to be the very thing that traps them in the end. They “dig their own graves” so to speak.

v16: Violent dealings – this is the word “Hamas” in Hebrew (same name as the terrorist organisation in Gaza, Israel, today). It is a word that means violence for the sheer love and enjoyment of causing harm and terror and pain to others. It was what the people were judged for in Noah’s day (Gen 6:11). This love of violence for the sake of violence is satanically inspired.

v17: David is confident that G-d will deliver him, that G-d has a purpose – a future – for him. He knows G-d would not allow him to be cut off at this time.

· One of the greatest reasons for thanking and praising G-d is because He is righteous.

· Again, name speaks of character. G-d’s character is related to His righteousness. It is part of G-d’s character to act according to righteousness. This should be such a comfort for us who believe – those of us who are IN Messiah. We can be confident that our G-d is indeed a Saviour, and He delights to rescue us in difficult circumstances!