This psalm, in the title, purports to be a production of the pen of David, and there is nothing in either secular or sacred writ that would indicate otherwise. There are many circumstances in the life of David into which these words could well fit, and it is similar to other things we know to be composed by the "sweet singer". "The psalm is said in the title to have been composed as a "song to the Lord, concerning the words (Marg., 'or business,') of Cush the Benjamite." There is no reason to call the correctness of this title in question." (Barnes) The psalm divides itself as follows: 1) A prayer of the psalmist for deliverance (1-2); 2) A ground for his prayer is laid in his innocence (3-5); 3) He prays that God will do the things he has asked on the general ground of the justice of God, and as a part of his general administration over men (6-9); 4) In his own hopes, he trusts in the Divine discrimination between innocence and guilt, assured that God would interpose on behalf of the righteous, and that the principles of the Divine administration were opposed to the wicked, (10-11); 5) He exudes in confidence that his evil enemies will ultimately come to naught (12-16); and, 6) He affirms that he would praise the righteous God (17).
The title to this psalm is "SHIGGAION OF DAVID". The word occurs only here in the singular, and in the plural in Hab. 3:1. By definition it means a psalm, song, or hymn. It seems to be properly applied to psalms that are filled (or even overflowing) with tears and similar emotions. The Latin Vulgate and the Septuagint render it simply "A psalm".
1 "O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust" -- This opening is a strong affirmation of the power of God on the part of the psalmist. The word rendered "trust" is from the Hebrew HHASA, and means "to flee". The idea is that the psalmist was fleeing to God for security and rest and shelter. He affirms his confidence in God's ability to protect him. "Save me from all them that persecute me" -- He was seeking the preservation of his physical life. "Persecute" indicated that they were trying to kill him, not just bother him. It would seem that Cush and "company" were trying to kill him and that he was turning to God for protection. This explanation fits if we suppose that Cush was part of the rebellion involving Absalom, as well as if he were a part of another attempt on the life of David. I find no evidence to indicate clearly either way. "And deliver me" -- Come to my rescue.
2 "Lest he" -- Referring to Cush. "Tear my soul like a lion" -- That is, 'deliver me lest Cush kill me as would a lion.' The word rendered "soul" here is not the word for the "inner man", but rather a word which indicates "life". David is, therefore, saying that Cush was about to take his life from him. "Rending it in pieces" -- The word for 'rending' is most closely associated with the English word "breaking". The picture invoked is that of a lion crushing or breaking the bones of his victim as he ate him. "While there is none to deliver" -- David seems to have felt like a single man who had fallen into the path of a hungry lion with no one around to come to his aid. He therefore turns to God and asks that God deliver him from Cush, the hungry lion of the word picture.
3 "O Lord my God" -- He herein invokes the reverent feeling from deep within his soul, calling Jehovah his Lord (leader, ruler) and his God (Sovereign Creator and Sustainer). "If I have done this" -- It becomes here apparent that Cush had accused David of some wrong. We do not know for sure what it was that Cush accused David of having done, and the only place we may certainly go to find out is the following words of this psalm; and even then, we are not able to see for sure just what is considered. There is some indication, however, that David was accused of doing violence to someone who had not provoked him. It is not clear whether the one to whom violence had been done was Cush or someone else, (presumably, that is, for in reality no violence had been done), but it would appear that Cush was in some way involved, based on the great display of anger exhibited by him. David goes on to deny in every point the accusations made against him. "If there be iniquity in my hands" -- The reference to "iniquity" in his "hands" seems to indicate the possession of stolen goods; things taken in the alleged attack perpetrated by David against Cush or a friend of Cush. The word "iniquity" literally means "an unjust possession".
4 "If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me" -- Take it literally, if David had treated the peaceful stranger wrongly, with evil or harm. "(yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)" -- Not only did I not treat the peaceful stranger with evil, says David, but I delivered him! The very opposite of his accusations is true. "An instance of this kind actually occurred in the life of David, in his treatment of Saul (I Sam. 20:10, 11); and it is possible that David referred to that case, and meant to say that that was an indication of his character, and of his manner of treating others." (Barnes)
5 "Let the enemy persecute my soul" -- Had he been guilty of the crimes with which he was charged, I doubt seriously that this would have been his fervent prayer; for, he is saying that if God found him to be guilty he wished to die the death for his crimes. "And take it" -- take the life of David. "Yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth" -- Picture a battle field, a fallen soldier, the enemies horses stomping on the defeated in pursuit of the remaining enemies. "And lay mine honour in the dust" -- David justly and rightly would suffer the loss of his dignity and accomplishments should he have been guilty. "Selah." -- Either occasion for pause and reflection, or indicating a change in the music with which the psalm was first accompanied.
6 "Arise, O Lord, in thine anger" -- He calls God into action, specifically into the action of punishing the unjust, those at whom God is angry. "Lift up thyself" -- It is as though God was standing by, waiting for the call of the righteous to swoop down and rescue him. "Because of the rage of mine enemies" -- Knowing the evil intent of his enemies, David calls for Divine intervention to save his life. Left to his own defense, David senses sure failure. "And awake for me" This word (for awake) is stronger than earlier words calling God into action, and indicates one who was asleep while a certain thing happened. The allusion is to God as having been asleep when evil came upon David, and David now wishes him, having come into a knowledge of the facts of the case, to rescue him. "To the judgment that thou hast commanded" -- God's law called for justice in these matters, and David now calls on God to honor his law and rescue him.
7 "So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about" -- Such an act as that for which David prayed would inspire confidence in God as just and holy on the part of many people. "For their sakes" -- on their behalf, or, to secure this result from them. "Return thou on high" -- Possible reference to the king ascending his throne to execute justice (see Isaiah 6:1).
8 "The Lord shall judge the people" -- David is confident that God would do as he promised and bring about justice in this matter. "Judge me, O Lord" -- Give to me the justice you have promised the faithful. "According to my righteousness" -- He asks that God view the facts and, upon such a viewing, find him innocent and execute justice concerning the matter at hand. "And according to mine integrity that is in me" -- "Integrity" here meaning "perfection", David is affirming complete and total innocence concerning this matter.
9 "O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end" -- He broadens the scope a bit here, asking God that in general terms the wickedness performed by misguided men would cease. He does not seem to limit this particular plea to this particular incident. "For the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins" -- "hearts" indicates the seat of the thoughts, and "reins" the motives. David is affirming that God knows that which we cannot know, for He sees that which we cannot see. He is asking that God would make a determination concerning every action of every man and cause the wicked to cease and the righteous to prosper. It is as our prayer: "Encourage us in that which is good, and discourage us in the evil."
10 "My defence is of God" -- The Hebrew word for "defence" is literally rendered "shield". The idea is that God, and not evil, is the protector of David in this matter. "Which saveth the upright in heart" -- Another allusion to the ability of God to see the heart, that which is hidden to men, and to the innocence of David.
11 "God judgeth the righteous" -- That is to say, God will pronounce a judgment in the favor of the righteous. "And God is angry with the wicked" -- God will rule in favor of the righteous, and will deal harshly with the wicked, (guilty). "Every day" -- Constantly. There is never an appropriate time for evil.
12 "If he turn not" -- If the wicked does not repent. "He will whet his sword" -- He will sharpen (prepare) the sword (instrument of punishment) in the absence of repentance on the part of the guilty. "He hath bent his bow" -- The bow, like the sword, was a weapon, used in battle, to inflict punishment on the enemy. God was in the process of executing that punishment. The allusion is to the ancient tradition of preparing the bow by walking on it; this God was doing in readying himself for the attack. "And made it ready" -- It is now ready and prepared, the punishment is about to begin.
13 "He hath also prepared for him" -- Needing no more preparation, the instruments of war (punishment) are ready for use. There will be no delay when God sets his mind to punish. "The instruments of death" -- The things with which God would punish the wicked. These would, in the context of this illustration, be arrows. Since arrows were used to inflict death, David is indicating that his enemies deserved (lacking repentance) to die. "He ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors" -- The Hebrew includes the idea of arrows that were burning; therefore, the ones against whom these arrows were to be used would burn, as a city, in the attack. We are reminded of the fires of Hell...
14 "Behold, he travaileth with iniquity" -- The reference is to the wicked man laboring, as a woman giving birth, strenuously with the evil to which he has set himself. "And hath conceived mischief" -- His plans are not for good things, but rather evil. He is giving birth, with much difficulty, to evil designs and schemes. "And brought forth falsehood" -- Despite all of the hard labor of the wicked (as a woman giving birth), he would see his plans and schemes come to naught, as an abortive pregnancy.
15 "He made a pit" -- The reference is to one digging a hole and covering it with brush to ensnare a wild animal. "And digged it" -- He made it large enough to contain his prey and deep enough to prevent escape. "And is fallen into the ditch which he made" -- He has been ensnared by his own snare! "Be sure, your sin will find you out."
16 "His mischief" -- The mischief which he had designed for others. "Shall return upon his own head" -- It will come back to him. "And his violent dealing" -- The violence which he designed for others. "Shall come down upon his own pate" -- "Pate" means, properly, top, or as in this reference, head. What he had intended for others would without a doubt return to him at his most vulnerable point.
17 "I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness" -- This aspect of the justice of God warranted praise from the psalmist. "And will sing praise to the name of the Lord" -- To the name of JEHOVAH. David would praise God. "Most high" -- Exalted above all other beings.
QUESTIONS: PSALM SEVEN
1. In whom did David put his trust?_________________________________________
2. From whom did he desire to be saved?___________________________________
3. Had David been guilty, was he willing to suffer the punishment?_________________
4. Give one example of David doing what he mentioned in v. 4.__________________
5. What will the Lord do to "the people"?____________________________________
6. What did the psalmist wish to come to an end?_____________________________
7. Of what (whom) was the psalmist's defence?________________________________
8. With whom is God every day angry?______________________________________
9. For what would one use a sword and 'bow and arrow'?________________________
10. In what had the wicked travailed?_______________________________________
11. What had the wicked conceived?________________________________________
12. What had the wicked brought forth?______________________________________
13. To what did the "pit" refer?____________________________________________
14. Upon whom would the wickedness of the wicked come?______________________
15. What would the psalmist "do"?__________________________________________
16. Whom would David praise?____________________________________________
17. According to what would he praise Him?__________________________________