Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. Psalm 7:9
A Call for God the Judge to Act
David, innocent of the slanders charged by his enemies, calls on God to vindicate him by punishing the wicked. Often we are shocked when we face suffering in this world. But the dominant message in the Book of Psalms is twofold: (1) God is good, and (2) life in this world is difficult. The life of faith is lived between these two realities.
Key concepts: Anger of God, Righteousness of God, Judge, Punishment
A Prayer for Vindication
7 1 A Meditation of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me, 2 Lest they tear me like a lion, Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver. 3 O Lord my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, 4 If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause, 5 Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah 6 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! 7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; For their sakes, therefore, return on high. 8 The Lord shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me. 9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
10 My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. 12 If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. 13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. 14 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. 17 I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
7:9,10 In the Hebrew, hearts and minds is literally “hearts and kidneys” – an ancient way of describing the innermost person. My defense means “my shield.” God hovers over the believer like a military shield, and invisible defense (33:20).
9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. 10 My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.
7:11-13 God is angry: The indignation of God is directed at the enemies of His people. Sharpen His sword: The imagery in vv. 12, 13 is of a great warrior preparing for battle: the Warrior is the Lord and the battle is against the wicked.
11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. 12 If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. 13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.
7:14-16 conceives trouble: The wicked become “mothers” to trouble. They will give birth to their own destruction.
14 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
