2005-07-09 - Hope and Comfort

Psalm 7, Part 3

For simplicity's sake, I will use Leupold's outline ⁴ of the psalm as we examine Psalm 7. He breaks it down into seven sections. I will give you each as we come to it.

1. A Plea for Help (vv.1-2) ⁵

   David starts off with the basis of his hope, his comfort, the Lord. It is God whom he depends on in the time of his trials. He recognizes it is only God who can protect him from the destructive desires of his enemy. The sense of the plea is similar to Peter's, as he sank into the sea. "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 15:30). Theologically, this may not be very deep, but it's certainly practical.

2. A Protestation of Innocence, asking that God may punish the writer if he is guilty (vv. 3-5) ⁶

   Knowing that God is the basis of his hope, David wants to make sure the persecution he is undergoing is not a product of God's judgment on him for some sin. He believes strongly in his own innocence. It is this confidence that is the basis of saying God should destroy him, if he is guilty of injustice. But innocence is not protection against either circumstances, as Job learned, or enemies, as David is learning. Doing what is right doesn't save us from trials.

3. A Plea That God may curb the Enemies and Vindicate the Writer (vv. 6-7) ⁷

   What follow is clearly an Old Testament concept, the call for God's judgment. It wasn't wrong for David, but it is for us. Because God is just, David calls for justice. God is just. He will bring justice, but not necessarily at this moment in time. The day is coming when God's people will again call for justice, and it will come "I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?'" (Revelation 6:9-10).

   Understand that justice means judgment of the unrighteousness, and therefore vindication of the righteous. Keep in mind that this is the culmination of the request made of God in the "Disciple's prayer. "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew. 6:10).

To be continued.

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

⁴ Leupold, H. C., Exposition of Psalms, Baker Book House, 1974, pp. 91-99
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.