August 10, 2016 (Wednesday)
David was popular with the people, but totally loyal to the king, Saul. A man named Cush, however, told the king that David was secretly plotting against him. David was extremely upset that such lies were being told to the king. This Psalm reflects his indignant, impassioned feelings (The word, “shiggaion” a type of music named in the heading of the Psalm, indicates such). An outline is suggested in this box:
When They Lie About Us
1. Let us take refuge in the Lord (vv 1-2)
2. Let us stand by the truth (vv 3-5)
3. Let us ask the Lord to vindicate us (vv 6-9)
4. Let us ask the Lord to protect us (vv 10-13)
5. Let us allow people to reap what they sow (vv 14-16)
6. Let us keep on praising God (vs 17)
1. Let us take refuge in the Lord (vv 1-2)
2. Let us stand by the truth (vv 3-5)
3. Let us ask the Lord to vindicate us (vv 6-9)
4. Let us ask the Lord to protect us (vv 10-13)
5. Let us allow people to reap what they sow (vv 14-16)
6. Let us keep on praising God (vs 17)
PSALM 7 (NIV)
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.
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.