Psalm 7

The righteous God will do right for righteous and wicked
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Text
Explanation
The psalm is sung at the Jewish feast of Purim. See Esther 9:13-32. Go
.1 ¶ <<Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.>> O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: 
.2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. 
  Shiggaion Perhaps a dirge (a slow sad song or lamentation). Also in hk0301 in the plural form.
  Cush We do not know more about this person from the tribe of Benjamin than we read here. He could have taken an active part in denouncing David when in flight from Jerusalem 2sa1513.
  Put my trust Before continuing with the explanation, David expresses confidence in God, an excellent example for us. ps01101, ps01601, ps07101.
  Save me ... persecute God often allows righteous people to suffer mistreatment. It's not wrong to ask for deliverance according to His will.
  Lest he tear Reference may be to Cush.
.3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
 4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
 5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
  If I have done this Job, before him, had pled his innocence jb31. David was apparently accused of some evil. Compare 1sa2412, 1sa2618.
  Delivered ... without cause David rewards the evil from his enemy be delivering him. Something he may have done as King. Compare 2sa2220, jb3615, ps03407.
  Tread down my life The psalmist may have been depressed, but the principle is valid. Death is better than doing something wrong. Of course there is no virtue in unnecessarily exposing ourselves to harsh treatment.
  Selah A pause is appropriate here.
.6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
 7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
  Arise See ps00307.
  Judgment It is right for God to defend the principles of His moral government ge1825.
  Compass the about As David was surrounded by enemies or chased by them, the Lord was defied mt2540. He could resolve the problem by judging from his throne in heaven.
  For their sakes For God to show His displeasure with wickedness is a blessing which awakens righteous and wicked.
.8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
.9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
  According to my righteousness A plea for God to act on the basis of David's innocence.
  Wickedness ... come to an end This is God's grand plan. The final act of the wicked is to surround the holy city that comes down from heaven at the end of the millennium. God will send fire from heaven to destroy them re2009. There will then be no more sin and no more death re2015.
  Reins Literally "kidneys" which were anciently considered to be the seat of the emotions or inner thoughts. God is often spoken of as trying the heart and the reins where the heart would represent the mind or will. Thus God judges our emotions and our minds.
.10 ¶ My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. 
 11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. 
.12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
  Angry ... every day God does not relax His work to being evil to an ends ps12104.
  Whet "Sharpen" in modern English. Compare de3241. The point is on being ready rather on any kind of gratification.
.13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
 14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
.15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 
.16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
  Instruments of death In the context, this is eternal death – the sleep from which there is no resurrection.
  Travaileth Or is burdened as in work to "bring forth" a baby.
  Made a pit ... fallen Examples include the story of Haman es05. Also pr2627, ec1008.
  Pate Or "head" or "forehead."
.17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.   Praise We began this psalm with trust v1. It is fitting to conclude it with praise.
   Name A name is who a person is. Thus it represents character. Here we praise God for who He is 1jo0407.
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